What is the theme of Anthem by Ayn Rand?

Ayn Rand's Anthem is a dystopian
novella, which means it addresses the dehumanization of mankind usually by some kind of
totalitarian government. That is true for this work as can be seen by the following
evidences:

• every character is nameless and is
  known only by a number (the protagonist is Equality 7-2521, for
  example)


• no one is allowed to be distinguished from
  anyone else (all men are brothers without any distinctions or
  divisions)


• all decisions are made for the common man by
  Scholars and Councils (including each person's
  profession)


• thinking, dreaming, and creating are strictly
  forbidden (and punishable crimes if they are
  discovered)


• being alone is the greatest crime/sin (as
  that wrongly distinguishes one man from his
  brothers) 


• work is the greatest good (so anything that
  eases men's labor is a crime)


• independent thinking is not
  allowed (the only good is the collective
  good)

The theme of this work is relatively
simple and has two parts. When the individual ("I") is absorbed into the collective
("we"), men degenerate into mindless, uncreative, and uninspired automatons who do
nothing but live to work and die young and exhausted. However, the spirit of freedom and
individuality lives on even in such a world, and a rare man will survive the oppression
of the collective to create, think, dream, and love.