Complex Characters

This novel is full of complex characters that have changed immensely from the beginning of the novel. Rand in the beginning describes this characters as regular people that could described in one word: James Taggart, business man, Dagny Taggart, business woman, Hank Rearden, workaholic, and Francisco d’Anconia, selfish heir. But as this novel progresses, you can see these one-dimensional character transform into characters that have many sides to them. Francisco d’Anconia, at the beginning of the novel, is seen as the character that every other character fears and hates because of the power that he has in the business. After reading about his love affair with Dagny and seeing how he treated Hank Rearden at his anniversary party, I see his true colors coming out. He is a straightforward man who tells it like it is. When Hank asked him if he was just plotting to make him lose money, Francisco’s answer was “Yes, eventually.” I also see that he does have feelings and does not only care about himself, but that he is capable of loving others.

Hank Rearden was seen as the kind of man that could be verbally abused by his family by acting like nothing was getting to him. He was submissive and would never respond to what they said because he did not actually care about them at all. Once he saw Dagny trade her diamond bracelet for the Rearden metal, I feel like he realized that he had to become more assertive. When Dagny goes to apologize to him for doing that he responds with, “It was not necessary.” Another thing that shows his assertiveness is when he treats Francisco as though he is just another person and is very straightforward to him. I cannot wait to see what other changes Hank goes through.