Rearden's Disconnect

Hank Rearden is a common man. He works hard at his job (of which he loves) that he built with his own hands hard work. And, he works for his family. But, at the end of the day, Rearden is just a man. A man with his flaws, his virtues, and his family. Maybe Rearden works too hard to keep the company he built from going under. Maybe he just doesn't pay enough attention to his family, especially his wife. Rearden, though, does not deserve the guilt and the pressure that his family places on him.

However, he might deserve the loss of connection and emotion with the rest of his family (especially Lillian). Although, Rearden might love his family, he does work way too hard. In Chapter VI, he attends his anniversary party only out of duty, not out of love or a sense of the fact that it is his wedding anniversary as well. Even though this party has the intellectuals of society in attendance, Rearden still continues his business ventures. He discusses business with d'Anconia. So, it's somewhat of a shock to me when we see his reaction to Lillian's surrender of the metal bracelet. He's dismayed, shocked, and somewhat embarrassed by Lillian's removal of the Rearden metal bracelet. But, he's deserved it; just his actions at his wedding anniversary prove that it was an appropriate act by Lillian. This book just keeps throwing surprises left and right, and keeps the reader into the details of it. I can't wait to start the next few chapters.

Enjoying Ayn Rand Makes Me Feel Guilty

With my first post I expressed how surprised I was to enjoy the writings of Ayn Rand given my personal bias against her, however I also expressed how the first two chapters were not heavy on the propaganda, which made it easier to enjoy her writing style. It is with sadness that I conclude that this book gets progressively less subtle with every few page. Do not mistake my disdain for Randian philosophy as a disdain for Randian writing, I still enjoy her as a writer, but just as I am getting comfortable with Rand as a writer she throws off the veil between her work and her beliefs. I struggle to continue to write in response to the work and not go off on a rant against Rand's philosophy in general, and what is keeping me grounded (for the most part) is the fact that I seem to hate her lack of subtly more than I could possibly dislike her philosophy. If she wanted to make this book one giant metaphor, fine, yes, more power to her- but to make the metaphor so blatant? There seems to be little effort to disguise this as a guide to her beliefs, something that first became evident to me when Jim claims that his train project in Mexico was for the good of the Mexican people (as opposed to being for any form of economic benefit to himself), this presents the reader with Rand's idea that the wealthy benefit all of society with their wealth, and deserve to be wealthy. Call it cynicism, call it pessimism, but I like to call it realism when I say that it is unrealistic to believe that a wealthy individual in a capitalist culture would act outside of self-interest, or rather that they would build a train line in another country simply for the good of its people.
Rand goes on to create scenarios in which she can show how harmful to society economic government intervention is, or at least how harmful she thinks it is. She gives the reader an unbiased scenario to see her point when she introduces a politically-related conflict around the "Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule". Obviously I am being sarcastic, but in all seriousness her lack of subtly bothers me. If I try to read her work ignoring what I know of her philosophy, I am able to accept even the moments of blatant propaganda as well-written, but alas, the curse of knowledge. In all honesty I was impressed with the way in which this emotionless world was presented, I felt as though this objective bottom-line culture was a subtle way that Rand incorporated her ideology, I still believe this. However, the more I read the more I notice the world Rand has created being used to amplify other metaphors. As much as I hate it's use, I do still have to commend Rand on how she created this world that presents her objectivism in the background while the characters act within it. However, I do have to point out that this world is entirely alien to anybody not suffering from some sort of extreme disorder, which means the ideas that she supports using the world as a lens are not necessarily true in reality. I know that point is basically irrelevant but I can only talk about Atlas Shrugged for so long before pointing out flaws in her argument.
I want to end this with something positive simply because I am not reading this book begrudgingly, I do really enjoy Ayn Rand as a writing, which again is a pleasant surprise. It is only when I think about what I am reading and when I feel the need to argue with the novel that my enjoyment is interrupted, but I want to emphasize that this is in no way due to the story or writing style, but because I know what certain things are supposed to communicate and in some cases how lacking in subtly they are. So I am at a point of internal conflict- I am really enjoying Atlas Shrugged  as a book, but thinking about it makes me feel guilty to enjoy it.

Analysis of Henry Rearden

Henry Rearden immediately obtained my sympathy, when he was introduced. Henry was exemplified as the typical “ workaholic”; never spending time with family, or showing interest in anything but money. When we got our first glimpse at this character, he was coming home from a tiring day at the mills. He had a metal bracelet in his pocket, in which he had made for his unappreciative wife. As Henry walked through the door into his luxurious home, he was scrutinized and condemned by his wife and family. His brother, mother, and friend came to enjoy a dinner with him, however his late arrival agitated them, rightfully so. Normally, I would understand the annoyance of someone showing up late. However, before Henry could explain or say anything for that matter, he was “ganged up” on by his guests. They told him how inconsiderate he was, how he does not care about anyone, and how he only focuses on making more money. Henry does not have much of a reaction, so he hands the newly made bracelet to his wife. He explains to her that the bracelet was made in the first batch of poured metal, but she finds the gift to be insignificant and humorous. Overall, Henry’s wife and guests were relentless; in the way they demeaned him. To make matters worse, we find out that Henry financially supports his entire family. Like previously mentioned, I would usually find it to be inconsiderate of someone to be late to dinner, especially at his/her home. Henry, from what I understand, had an exhausting day at work and simply forgot about the dinner. He did not deserve the harsh criticism that he received. If anything, the guests should have been more appreciative of his tremendous success. After all, he completely supports their lifestyles.

-Morgan Mills 

Romanticizing Dagny (Rachael Marks)

As soon as I read the interaction between Hank Rearden and Dagny Taggart I began to fear what Dagny's character would become. I desperatly hoped that Ayn Rand would not submit to the typical and turn Dagny into a romantic character, like it seems all female characters must be, but sadly she did. I enjoyed thinking of Dagny as a character that could defy her assumed role in society, along with her assumed role in writing, she was strong and independent and the perfect candidate for this position, but then Fransisco was brought in. The moment his name was first mentioned, I feared that his character would be exactly who he turned out to be, but deciding to not let that discourage my reading I let the thought pass.
My dislike for the romanticization of Dagny's character does not mean that I did not enjoy reading about it. I actually thought it was beautiful and that Ayn Rand did a fantastic job of fleshing out the heroine of the story. The whole history was written in such a beautiful, realistic manner, that I could not put the book down as I read through it. But I do not want Atlas Shrugged to be a love story. This story was holding up without the romantic aspect in a way I have never seen before. I really wish that Ayn Rand would have taken that opportunity in this masterpiece and broken the cliche. I hate when books become just about the love story and lose their original meaning, just like The Great Gatsby. That book has been overly romanticized, which can clearly be seen in the recent movie. That book was not a love story, it was in fact a social commentary, just as Atlas Shrugged. I hope that this book does not fall to that level and spend too much time on Dagny's sex life. I would be extremely dissapointed if it did.

Getting Down to Business

No wonder the world seems to be falling apart, with the leaders of the economy more focused on their relationship with the government and the public than on their own businesses. The actions of the men in the bar scene defy all reasonable logic. They do not understand that the long-term implications of these dealings will be fatal to their own businesses, and it appears that only capable people are, Dagny Targett, Hank Rearden, and Ellis Wyatt, who are actually willing to deal with each other face to face, not scheming and plotting like everyone else. As Rearden says “You and I will always be there to save the country from the consequences of their (Jim and his friend’s) actions”(pg 85). I also find this quote special because it is true how much power Dagny, Rearden, and Wyatt hold, power that is almost as great as the US government.

Jim and his fiends claim to be fighting for social justice when they plot to take the iron mines from Rearden, but are in fact, in their childishness and jealousy, hoping to remove better competition, in comparison to Dagny who since her childhood has only cared and looked for stronger competition to whom she could challenge.

A common theme so far in the novel is the loss of great minds, who seem to be disappearing off the face of the earth. Men for no reason, such as the mechanic, Dan Conway and Francisco, appear to be giving up and quitting. The discussion held between the “intellectuals” at the Rearden’s wedding anniversary represents this complete loss of reason as they, like Jim and his friends, discuss the impractical and ridiculous ideas that are occupying a majority of society minds, ideas such as the belief that hard work is something not to be praised.

The Tension is Rising

This weeks reading of Atlas Shrugged has brought more drama and made me want to keep reading. I love all the conflict between the Taggart siblings and the problems that they have to face. Although this has to do with the making of railroads I feel like these problems between the two of them stem from something that happened when they were younger which is why there is so much conflict. Dagny is a character that I enjoy because she is such a strong woman and she knows exactly what she wants. If there is a problem she goes directly to the person she has to deal with.  Dagny is not the conventional woman. She is proud to be a woman and does not let any man get in her way. This is inspires me as a woman to go out and get what I want and not let anyone stop me. When Wyatt gives her the ultimatum she says no problem and that she will fix everything. He is in shock because he thought that she was going to create all of these excuses, but she did not. That is the kind of woman that she is. When she goes to talk to Hank about making the railroads as soon as possible, Hank sees that he is not the only person in the world that cares so much about his work and he feels like he can relate to her. This left me asking myself “Will something happen between them in the future?”

Commentary on the Conversation Between Dagney Taggart and Hank Rearden (Monica Rodriguez)

The conversation between Dagney and Rearden after the passing of the Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule is the first time in the novel that I noticed the two being comfortable and almost happy in another person’s presence. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of their meeting, and the fact that Rearden is making a profit off of Dagney’s misfortune, both characters seemed to really enjoy each other’s company. For the first time in the novel, they were accompanied by someone that they viewed as an intellectual equal and as such had a deep respect for one another. They felt comfortable in each other’s company because of the undeniable similarities between them. They both are entirely focused on their business and on being as profitable as they can be, and because of this they know what to expect from one another. They don’t hide behind cries of “fairness” and the importance of “equal opportunities” in the market place to serve their own selfish purposes, as James Taggart does in his push for the Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule. They are open about their intentions, and though it makes them seem cold to the rest of the world, it also makes them seem like better business people to each other. Dagney even tells Rearden just as much saying that she is “relieved” by his high price because she knows that she is “dealing, for once, with someone who doesn’t pretend to give favors.” Ironically they can trust each other because they are both dispassionate business people. 

Hank Rearden

The thing I loved most about this chapter of Atlas Shrugged was the fact that Rand included a character that places high value in individualism. Despite his family's inherent condescension towards his job, Hank Rearden finds happiness in what he does and the work he produces. He not only believes in what he does and makes, but he is motivated by his passion he has for his work. Quite simple, Rearden loves what he does, and he is not ashamed by it. He is a self-made man and his comment to Larkin that he should "pay attention to his man in Washington" shows that he has little patience for games such as politics. At first, I did not know how I felt about Hank Rearden because he seemed to be selfish. After reading more of the chapter, I realized that Rearden is only selfish in the fact that he is motivated to do things for himself, not to benefit any other people, which isn't necessarily a bad thing; he is a successful, virtuous industrialist. Just because Rearden has self-actualized, does not make him selfish. His family is wrong in the way they treat him and how they try to make him feel guilty. The Rearden family is similar to James Taggart, because they are weak and they depend on their weakness to take from Hank; they try to control him in every way they possibly can. Is that what a family is supposed to do? No, but the Rearden family dynamics are central to the novel, and further add to the idea that the strong feel guilty for their "strength" and responsible for the weak (just like Dagny Taggart). 

Dagny Taggart's Character (Priya Dhairyawan)

            The past few chapters have revealed a tremendous amount regarding Dagny Taggart’s character. The first couple of chapters made it clear that she is an intelligent woman who does what is best for the company regardless of what anyone tells her; but, now the reader has a deeper understanding of her character apart from the company. For one, she appears to be an extremely strong-willed person. The narrator reveals that Dagny decided that she would run the family company at the age of twelve and began working there at sixteen. She shocked everyone with her skill, especially in a world where women did not hold high positions in the working world. Dagny demonstrated her talent even when everyone doubted her. I think she presents herself as an extremely positive role model, due to her defiance of society’s expectations and her determination to succeed in the toughest of situations.

In addition, Dagny’s previous love interest, Francisco, brings out more qualities about her character. After Francisco left Dagny ten years prior, she went through a tough struggle; however, I believe this heartache left a positive influence on her. Not only did Dagny become a stronger individual in terms of dealing with pain, but she seems to have become more independent as well. Dagny discovered that she cannot depend completely on one individual; she can only rely on herself. I believe that this revelation heavily influenced her behavior. Now, as can be seen through her decisions regarding the railroads in Mexico, Dagny only trusts herself and the ideas that she has. Her character is something to be admired by all.

On Competition and how it is Detrimental to Humanity

Let’s not beat around the bush, Rand makes it clear within these chapters that she despises the role of government and how it has decided to take a role in the economy and businesses. Ayn Rand would be appalled at the title of this post; it is clearly shown whether it is Conway willing to appease the opinion of the majority of the group or Boyle getting the better deal thanks to the government, at the utter expense of the obviously better Rearden and his product.

I have no problem saying that I do not agree with any of the thought process made here by Rand. This idea that government is the highest evil among all evils is the core of Rand gets at, she is professing the libertarian ideals. While in theory it makes sense that an economy that is free to operate on its own without any type of limitations will perform better than one with limitations that is not this case. The single most important problem with this idea is that the equation fails to take into account humanity on both sides of the equation. This theory that she has says that the man’s humanity will ruin the economy from the outside in but not the other way around. I believe that is the problem, it can easily be seen that Taggart Transcontinental is a giant in the industry; Rand is implying that government intervention will cripple the organizational and not allow it to flourish. But if it were allowed to ‘flourish’, someone else must suffer. Let me put it this way, would you rather it be fair chance for all (socialistic choice) or fair for one (capitalistic choice). Obliviously neither of these choices are the best, but they are the extremes that Rand is forming, she has a side she wants you take, but if you had to choose one, which would it be.

The Serpent's Tree

    In the beginning of her novel, Ayn Rand made me wonder over how any society could become as dull, depressed, dark, and unemotional as the one described in Atlas Shrugged. My question was clearly answered through the newly introduced character, Francisco d'Anconia , who symbolized the serpent known as government. In the novel’s setting, people were under governmental control rather than being individuals. Not a single character could gather up enough courage and separate themselves from the power that the serpent exerted.
    Francisco poisoned Dagney’s mind, and as a result, was the reason why Dagny became a cold hearted business woman who gave no value to emotional connections. Francisco states that “Dagny, there’s nothing of any importance in life- except how well you work. Nothing, Only That. Whatever else you are, will come from that. It’s the only measure of human value.” (Rand, 98) This sickening idea that he presented was similar to the apple poisonous apple that he presented to Adam and Eve. He promised wealth, power, and greed which resulted in the murdering of the core values that exist in human beings.
    The reader later finds out the true identify of Francisco and that the fact that he took advantage  of Dagny and ripped away any trace of individuality that she had. In the end, Rand suggests that the White House’s garden and its associates are draining society of its true emotional and ethical riches. People are no longer distinctive, but rather, robotic.

Reaction to the Tensions Portrayed in the Reading

          Admittedly, the first two chapters of Atlas Shrugged were interesting, but were not too compelling. On the other hand, after reading chapters three through six, I found myself captivated with what Ayn Rand had to offer. Not only did these chapters build tension between characters, but they also illustrated the beginning of a number of central conflicts in the novel. Moreover, the reading demonstrated the growing competition that results from an economic depression. For instance, when the third chapter begins, there are overlapping discussions regarding the possibility of Rearden’s Steel outcompeting Boyle’s steel and the feuds between Taggart’s Railroads and other railroad lines. In addition to the competition present in the novel, these chapters also introduce the idea that companies are also dependent on one another. For instance, some railroad lines rely on others to stay up in running such as the Rio Norte’s dependence on the Ellis Wyatt. My favorite part of the reading was the input of some drama in te novel. The audience learns that Francisco d’Anconia, the owner of the mines in Mexico from which the Taggart’s invests in, had an affair with Dagny Taggart. Dagny and Francisco’s past brings up an interesting element to the novel because there is a lot of tension between Francisco and the Taggart’s after Dagny and Jim relied on Francisco’s mines that were in fact worthless. My final point will be in regards to the party held by Lillian Rearden at the end of the reading. Here, rather than expressing joy throughout the party, there is constant talk about business, which reflects the true concerns during the time of an economic downfall. These scenes and many others so far in Atlas Shrugged have caught my attention because they offer an interesting perspective on the affects that an economic downturn has. 

My Reaction to Dagny Taggart, Second Reading of Atlas Shrugged

       In this week’s reading of Atlas Shrugged, I felt that I saw a few characters be totally revealed – mainly, Dagny Taggart. I already knew she was a “revolutionary” and determined woman at the beginning of the novel, but not to the extent that I found out in the chapters I read this week. I genuinely like and admire that about her, and I think it exactly the way she does. I believe that a woman should be independent and be able to manage herself and her work (in this case, an important railroad company) without feeling undermined just because she is a woman. Dagny goes beyond to prove this. These chapters also reveal her ambitions as a teenager: “She was twelve years old when she told Eddie Willers that she would run the railroad when they grew up. She was fifteen when it occurred to her for the first time that women did not run railroads and that people might object. To hell with that, she thought – and never worried about it again” (54). This shows her determination and confidence at such a young age because at fifteen she was already defying society's standards about a woman's position. Speaking of her adolescent years, we are introduced to one of the main influences to have crossed her path – Francisco D'Anconia. Not only were they childhood friends, but Francisco had taught her pretty much everything she knew when she was starting out in business. In addition to that, we find out that Francisco and Dagny had a deeper and romantic relationship -- they were lovers. Unfortunately for Dagny, this relationship had many obstacles and hardships, such as being away from each other most of the time and having to keep it a secret. It is finally revealed that Francisco left her to lead a promiscuous life, becoming a “play boy” (as he is described in the novel). I personally feel that as much as it hurt Dagny, it made her stronger as a woman as well. I believe that everything that hurts you turns out to be a lesson and only makes you stronger. This week's reading of Atlas Shrugged got me much more intrigued, especially due to my deep admiration of Dagny Taggart. 

The Mystery Behind Francisco d'Anconia (Alexia Barrios)

In this weeks reading of Atlas Shrugged we learn a great amount about Francisco d’Anconia. Francisco is a character who carries loads of mystery behind him, which is something that instantly intrigued me and led him to become an object of interest to me. We learn of his complicated nature in The Climax of the D’Anconias, where Rand reveals the history of the friendship between Dagny and Franscisco. In the beginning of the chapter we learn of Francisco when Eddie shows a reluctant Dagny the newspaper that announced the worthless mines in Mexico which Francisco invested in. Dagny is taken aback by the news claiming, “Francisco is not a fool. Whatever else he may be, no matter what depravity he’s sunk to…he’s not a fool.” (88) From what we learn later on in Chapter 5, Francisco is beyond a doubt an intellectual businessman, who played an integral role in shaping Dagny to be the strong and independent businesswoman that she is today. When reading that Francisco spent millions on worthless mines in Mexico I was just as shocked as Dagny was. Throughout the chapter he made it evident that he is someone who took his future in his families business very seriously, I was confused on how this possibly could have occurred. When Francisco ended the relationship he said “…don’t be astonished by anything I do or by anything I may ever do in the future.” (110), and he goes on struggling to not share what his plan is in fear that she will attempt to stop him. After reading the following passages I began to think that possibly he was hinting to this scenario. When Dagny now confronts him about the scenario, Francisco remains as mysterious as ever, never revealing the motives for his actions claiming she was not ready or courageous enough to hear it yet. When reading these passages I was left extremely frustrated with Francisco, because as I said he is extremely intelligent and would not do something like this without a logical motive.