1. Stage a meeting between John Galt and the President of the United States. What would Galt say to him? How would the President respond? Create and enact a dialogue between the two. Perform the same activity with John Galt (or one of the novel’s other main characters) and a […]
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1. Why do the men of the mind go on strike? 2. What are the reasons for Rearden’s willingness to support the family that seeks to destroy him? 3. Why does a great mind like Robert Stadler’s believe that joining the looters is necessary? 4. In a book whose main […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsStudy Help Full Glossary for Atlas Shrugged
aristocracy of pull a new group of powerful men who have reached their status not by means of talent or initiative, but by means of political connections. In this chapter, it refers to men like James Taggart and his friends, who seek success by currying favor with the politicians in […]
Read more Study Help Full Glossary for Atlas ShruggedCritical Essays The Role of the Common Man in Atlas Shrugged: The Eddie Willers Story
The heroes of Atlas Shrugged are men and women of great intellect. Dagny, Rearden, Francisco, Ellis Wyatt, and, above all, Galt are superb thinkers — even geniuses. The story makes clear the multitude of ways in which the great minds are mankind’s benefactors. But an honest reader may ask: What […]
Read more Critical Essays The Role of the Common Man in Atlas Shrugged: The Eddie Willers StoryCritical Essays The Role of the Mind in Human Life in Atlas Shrugged
All the main positive characters in Atlas Shrugged are great minds. Dagny Taggart is a brilliant businesswoman/engineer who runs a transcontinental railroad superbly. Hank Rearden is a productive genius of the steel industry and an extraordinary metallurgist who invents a new material that’s vastly superior to steel. Francisco d’Anconia is […]
Read more Critical Essays The Role of the Mind in Human Life in Atlas ShruggedAyn Rand Biography
Early Life and Education Ayn Rand was born Alissa Rosenbaum in 1905 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Rand was raised in an upper-middle-class, European-oriented family, in the midst of the mysticism and nationalism of Russia. Having taught herself to read, Rand, at the age of 8, became captivated by the heroism […]
Read more Ayn Rand BiographyCharacter Analysis James Taggart
Taggart is the president of Taggart Transcontinental, Dagny’s older brother, and the novel’s most prominent villain. He is far worse than a corrupt businessman seeking wealth by parasitical means. Like his soulmate Lillian Rearden, Taggart is riddled with hatred for the good. His goal in life, which dominates his actions […]
Read more Character Analysis James TaggartCharacter Analysis Francisco d’Anconia
Francisco is one of John Galt’s two closest friends and an indispensable ally in the strike. He takes on the role of squandering playboy as cover for his two real activities. One of these is to gradually obliterate all assets of the world’s wealthiest corporation — d’Anconia Copper — and […]
Read more Character Analysis Francisco d’AnconiaCharacter Analysis Hank Rearden
Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism stresses the virtue of productivity — the ability of human beings to create the goods and services necessary for survival on earth. Hank Rearden is the embodiment of this virtue. In his early teens, Rearden pushed himself to herculean efforts in the ore mines, refusing […]
Read more Character Analysis Hank ReardenCharacter Analysis Dagny Taggart
Dagny is the heroine and primary narrator of the story. Her great stature comes from the combination of characteristics that she possesses. Her knowledge of engineering and industry enables her to expertly run a transcontinental railroad. Her understanding of physics allows her to identify the virtues of Rearden Metal. The […]
Read more Character Analysis Dagny Taggart