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.