So we awaited our turn in the great hall and then we heard the Council of Vocations call our name: “Equality 7-2521.” We walked to the dais, and our legs did not tremble, and we looked up at the Council. There were five members of the Council, three of the male gender and two of the female. Their hair was white and their faces were cracked as the clay of a dry river bed. They were old. They seemed older than the marble of the Temple of the World Council. They sat before us and they did not move. And we saw no breath to stir the folds of their white togas. But we knew that they were alive, for a finger of the hand of the oldest rose, pointed to us, and fell down again. This was the only thing which moved, for the lips of the oldest did not move as they said: “Street Sweeper.”

—Anthem, Ayn Rand

How does this imagery develop the theme that collective societies limit the individual?

Group of answer choices

It contrasts uniform society with Equality 7-2521’s vivid thoughts and feelings.

The imagery of the decision shows that all power in society lies in one person’s hands.

It shows how Equality 7-2521’s actions and thoughts mimic those of the collective.

Even though Equality has adopted some social conventions of this collectivist society (such as using only "we" as a personal pronoun, without the individualist "I"), he still manages to retain the only part of himself that nobody can take away - his vivid thoughts, observation, and imagination. Of course, he can only unveil those thoughts in his secret diary, but he hasn't lost them altogether.

The members of the Council, on the other hand, are silent, cold, and devoid of any observable emotions. Their language is laconic (concise, using a bare minimum of words without any speech ornaments such as imagery). It's as if all five of them are identical, with the only difference being the gender.