Rearden's Change (Priya Dhairyawan)

                Hank Rearden has been undergoing a transformation from a submissive man to a more assertive man. Towards the beginning of the story, Hank was far less strong-willed, as he placed more importance on his family’s opinions than he did on his own. He was willing to do what they wanted despite his own preferences; he took abusive comments about his workaholic lifestyle even though it was something he truly enjoyed. Now, however, Rearden is becoming less accepting of his family’s judgmental ways. This change is evident when Rearden confronts his brother, Philip, about his dependence on him. He now decides that his family will not stand in his way of doing what he wants. They have already suppressed him enough and he needs to stand up to them at once. Rearden’s change is also evident when he is talking about the metal he is supposed to provide for the State Science Institute’s Project X. He refuses to willingly provide his metal for people who have consistently opposed his product. Rearden stands up for himself more than even before. Personally, I think this transformation is positive for Hank. He needs to know that he has a right to go against what is expected of him. He has worked tremendously hard to get to where he is, so he should not have to sacrifice his success simply because a few people do not want him to prosper. During his trial, Hank continues to embrace his new behavior, pushing back his old, submissive ways. His honesty about his quest for profit would have likely been concealed with his old behavior, but his transformation allows him to embrace his need for success.