Team Dagny

Dagny Taggart still remains the focus of my interest, even as I come towards the end of this book. She is a female protagonist that I can resonate with on many levels. Her thoughts, her actions, and her reactions- I think of them at the same rate as she produces them. I have come a long way with this character, analyzing her relationships and her manner, and although at times I have found myself judging her negatively, after mulling over it for some time or with further reading, I realize that I often misjudge her- to my standards, anyway. In my previous post, I had just touched upon Part III of the novel and mentioned my confusion and concern over this turn of events. What had bothered me the most was how improbable it all seemed, how hurriedly all my questions were being answered, and how Dagny seemed to doubt none of it as I sat meanwhile in utter bewilderment.  As I mentioned before, however, I often misjudge her, this time being no exception. I found myself accepting that all the events presented to me in Part III were not a result of a coma, but in fact the reality Rand had chosen to continue upon. I must apologize for my oversight- I admit, I enjoy the straightforwardness of Part III, of Mr. Perfect, and of all the information coming to a sound conclusion. I am also beginning to see what side Rand is on. I am not one to understand the details of government, economics, and political theories, but this utopia, although unlikely to function in the real world, is respectable, as are Dagny’s choices during her one month stay in it. Sure, it was strange to see Dagny so out of character, feeble, and powerless in this utopia- but does Mr. Perfect not mention that all “scabs” must start off that way? It makes sense that Dagny chose to be his maid- actually, this was a very in-character choice for her. Dagny is a hard worker, and has been since I first met her in this long, long literary journey. She does not steal, she does not give up, and she does not accept goods without her services- she is a true worker, a representation of Rand’s ideal human being, a perfect addition to this other world. With her emotional outbursts, her romantic unpredictability, and her other flaws, I cannot bring myself to hate Dagny or give up on her- they make me admire her more and more.