Just like in the Garden of Eden, free will was not an option in Ayn Rand's Anthem.
However, despite societal disapproval, Equality 7-2521 decided to venture out on his own and uncover the secret of electricity, mirroring Eve's action of taking a fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Both acts were deemed selfish and sinful but neither Adam and Eve nor Equality 7-2521 considered the potential consequences and simply followed their desires. Clearly, such actions would not go without punishment.
The Council of Scholars punished Equality 7-2521 for his discovery because it did not benefit the society's collective "we" and was made without their knowledge. This punishment, however, was not as severe as the one Adam and Eve received when they were expelled from the Garden of Eden and left to fend for themselves without God. In Anthem,
...living without the Council of Scholars seemed advantageous for Equality 7-2521, as he no longer had to adhere to their rules and could exercise free will. Contrastingly, Adam and Eve faced a much harsher fate as they were not only expelled, but Eve also had the added punishment of giving birth to children for tempting Adam. These consequences, though severe, were deemed necessary.
The resemblance between the Council of Scholars in Anthem and God can be compared by examining their actions, such as allowing Equality 7-2521 to venture into the Uncharted Forest, which could be seen as a form of banishment. However, I personally believe that there are significant differences between the Council of Scholars and God. While God protected Adam and Eve by keeping free will to himself, the council aimed to conceal the outside world and maintain
corrupt society of 'robots.' Thus, their views diverged significantly from God's. Nonetheless, some similarities can be observed, such as God prohibiting the consumption of the fruit, akin to the directives of the Council of Scholars.
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