Hope

During pages 280-400 of Atlas Shrugged, we begin to see the loss of hope and strength among the only characters intelligent enough to protect all of the United States from those whose stupidity and power have led to its falling apart. Of the three characters; Dagny Taggart, Hank Rearden, and Ellis Wyatt, who were once described as the only ones capable of saving the country, we have completely lost one, Ellis Wyatt, and we are beginning to see the down fall of another, Hank Rearden. Dagny seems to be the only one retaining any strength and hope, strength and hope that Hank is feeding off of. We see Hank loosing his conviction as he walks through the dark streets of New York City with “his hands in his coat pockets and his arms pressed to his sides” (347) hoping to avoid all contact with the outside world. His only crutch and connection to the outside world is Dagny and the nights they spend together.  He seems to have nothing else to look forward to, as shown in his not wanting to see her, understanding that if he were to see her as they had planned, he would eventually have to leave and therefore have nothing else to look forward to.  

Even after the disappearance of Ellis Wyatt we are left with what becomes known as Wyatt’s Torch, a reminder of faith in those protecting the US, allowing me to believe that not all hope is lost, and establishing a monumental idea that there is a never ending well of vitality to energize those who are able to fight back.