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(Redirected from Twentieth Century Motor Works)
''' Atlas Shrugged ''' is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. It was Rand's last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. At over one thousand pages in length, she considered it her ''magnum opus''. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.
The theme of ''Atlas Shrugged'' is the role of the mind in man's existence and, consequently, presentation of the morality of rational self-interest.[1]
The main conflict of the book occurs as the "individuals of the mind" go on strike, refusing to contribute their inventions, art, business leadership, scientific research, or new ideas of any kind to the rest of the world. Society, they believe, hampers them by interfering with their work and underpays them by confiscating the profits and dignity they have rightfully earned. The peaceful cohesiveness of the world requires those individuals whose productive work comes from mental effort. But feeling they have no alternative, they eventually start disappearing from the communities of "looters" and "moochers" who bleed them dry. The strikers believe that they are crucial to a society that exploits them, and the near-total collapse of civilization triggered by their strike shows them to be correct.
Like the Greek Titan Atlas, individuals rationally and circumspectly seeking their own long-term happiness believe that they hold the world on their shoulders. The novel's title is an allusion to the Titan, discussing what might happen if those supporting the world suddenly decided to stop doing so. In the novel, the allusion comes during a conversation between two protagonists, Francisco d'Anconia and Hank Rearden, near the end of part two, chapter three, where Francisco suggests to Rearden that if he could suggest to Atlas that he do one thing, it would be to shrug.
In the world of ''Atlas Shrugged'', society stagnated when independent productive achievers began to be socially demonized and even punished for their accomplishments, even though society had been far more healthy and prosperous by allowing, encouraging and rewarding self-reliance and individual achievement. Independence and personal happiness flourished to the extent that people were free, and achievement was rewarded to the extent that individual ownership of private property was strictly respected. The hero, John Galt, lives a life of laissez-faire capitalism as the only way to live consistent with his beliefs.
''Atlas Shrugged'' is a political book. It portrays fascism, socialism, democracy, capitalism and communism – any form of state intervention in society – as systemically and fatally flawed. However, Rand claimed that it is not a ''fundamentally'' political book, but that the politics portrayed in the novel are a result of her attempt to display her image of the ideal person and the individual mind's position and value in society.
Rand argues that independence and individual achievement enable society to survive and thrive, and should be embraced. But this requires a "rational" moral code. She argues that, over time, coerced self-sacrifice causes any society to self-destruct.
She is similarly dismissive of faith beyond reason, in a god or higher being, or anything else as an authority over one's own mind. The book positions itself against religion specifically, often directly within the characters' dialogue.
Galt's Gulch was inspired by Ouray, Colorado. It was here that Rand found inspiration to complete the novel, though she greatly expanded the small valley to include her many ideas for the story.
Exactly when ''Atlas Shrugged'' is meant to take place is kept deliberately vague. In 152, the population of is given as 7 million. The historical New York City reached 7 million people in the 1930s, which might place the novel sometime after that. There are many early 20th century technologies available, but the political situation is clearly different from actual history. One interpretation is that the novel takes place many years in the future, implying that since the world lapsed into its socialistic morass, a global stagnation has occurred in technological growth, population growth, and indeed growth of ''any'' kind; the wars, economic depressions, and other events of the 20th century would be a distant memory to all but scholars and academicians. This would be in line with Rand's ideas and commentary on other novels depicting Utopian and dystopian societies. Furthermore, this is also in line with an excerpt from a 1964 interview with ''Playboy'' magazine in which Rand states "What we have today is not a capitalist society, but a mixed economy – that is, a mixture of freedom and controls, which, by the presently dominant trend, is moving toward dictatorship. The action in ''Atlas Shrugged'' takes place at a time when society has reached the stage of dictatorship. When and if this happens, that will be the time to go on strike, but not until then," thus implying that her novel takes place at some point in the future. The concept of societal stagnation in the wake of collectivist systems is central to the plot of another of Rand's works, ''Anthem''.
In ''Atlas Shrugged,'' all countries outside the US have become, or become during the novel, "People's States". There are many examples of early 20th century technology in ''Atlas Shrugged'', but no post-war advances such as nuclear weapons, helicopters, or computers. Jet planes are mentioned briefly as being a relatively new technology. Television is a novelty that has yet to assume any cultural significance, while radio broadcasts are prominent (in fact, television only makes its first appearance later on in the book, reflecting the fact that television appeared in the fifties, i.e., during the ten years it took to write the book). Although Rand does not use many of the technological innovations available while she was writing in the book, she introduces some advanced, fictional inventions (e.g., sonic-based weapons of mass destruction, torture devices, as well as power plants and a highly advanced strong steel alloy).
Most of the action in ''Atlas Shrugged'' occurs in the . However, there are important events around the world, such as in the People's States of Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, and piracy at sea.
The novel's plot is split into three parts. The first two parts, and to some extent the last, follow Dagny Taggart, a no-nonsense railroad executive, and her attempt to keep the company alive despite repeated encroachments by a society falling toward collectivism, altruism, and statism. All throughout the novel people repeat a platitude Dagny greatly resents: "Who is John Galt?" It is a reflection of their helplessness, as the saying means "Don't ask important questions, because we don't have answers."
The leaders and innovators of industry in the world seem to be disappearing, and the apparent decline of civilization is making it more and more difficult for her to sustain her life-long aspirations of running the trans-continental railroad, which has been in her family for several generations. She deals with other characters who often personify archetypes of what Rand considers the various schools of philosophy for living and working in the world (though they are in most cases often unconscious of it).
Some of these are: Hank Rearden, a self-made businessman of great integrity whose career is hindered by his feelings of obligation toward his wife. Francisco d'Anconia, Dagny's childhood friend, first love, and king of the copper industry, appears to have become a worthless playboy who is purposely destroying his business. Dagny's brother, president of the railroad, who seems peripherally aware of the troubles facing the company and the country in general, but who almost always makes the most short term and ultimately self-destructive choice.
As the novel progresses, the myths about the real John Galt, as well as Francisco d'Anconia's actions, increasingly become a reflection of the state of the culture and seem to make more and more sense. Hank and Dagny begin to experience the futility of their attempts to survive in a society that hates them and those like them for their greatness.
Dagny and Hank find the remnants of a motor that turns atmospheric static electricity into kinetic energy, an astounding feat; they also find evidence that the minds (the "Atlases") of the world are disappearing because of one particular "destroyer" taking them away. Dagny and Hank deal with the irrationalities and apparent contradictions of their atmosphere, and search for the creator of the motor as well as "the destroyer" who is draining the world of its prime movers, in an effort to secure their ability to live rational lives.
The question "Who is John Galt?" is also answered towards the closing of the novel — John Galt is a man disgusted that non-productive members of society use laws and guilt to leech from the value created by productive members of society. He made a pledge that he would never live his life for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for him, and founded an enclave, separate from the rest of the country, where he and other productive members of society have fled.
Rand's heroes must continually fight against the "looters" and "moochers" of the society surrounding them.
The looters are those who confiscate others' earnings "at the point of a gun" (figuratively speaking)—often because they are government officials, and thus their demands are backed by the threat of force. Some looters are following the policies of the government, such as the officials who confiscate one state's seed grain to feed the starving citizens of another state; others are exploiting those policies, such as the railroad regulator who illegally sells the railroad's supplies on the side. The common factor is that both use force to take property from the people who produced or earned it, and both are ultimately destructive.
The moochers are those who demand others' earnings because they claim to be needy and unable to earn themselves. Even as they beg for their help, however, they curse the people who make that help possible, because they hate the talented for having the talent they don't possess. Although the moochers seem benign at first glance, they are portrayed as more destructive than the looters—they destroy the productive through guilt and often motivate the legal looting performed by governments.
Looting and mooching are seen at all levels of the world ''Atlas Shrugged'' portrays, from the looting officials Dagny Taggart must work around and the mooching brother Hank Rearden struggles with, to the looting of whole industries by companies like Associated Steel and the mooching demands for foreign aid by the starving countries of Europe.
The ''Sanction of the victim'' is defined as "the willingness of the good to suffer at the hands of the evil, to accept the role of sacrificial victim for the 'sin' of creating values."
The entire story of ''Atlas Shrugged'' can be seen as an answer to the question, what would happen if this sanction were revoked? When Atlas shrugs, relieving himself of the burden of carrying the world, he is revoking his sanction.
The concept may be original in the thinking of Ayn Rand and is foundational to her moral theory. She holds that evil is a parasite on the good and can only exist if the good tolerates it. To quote from Galt's Speech: "Evil is impotent and has no power but that which we let it extort from us," and, "I saw that evil was impotent...and the only weapon of its triumph was the willingness of the good to serve it." Morality requires that we do not sanction our own victimhood, Rand claims. In adhering to this concept, Rand assigns virtue to the trait of rational selfishness. However, Rand contends that moral selfishness does not mean a license to do whatever one pleases, guided by whims. It means the exacting discipline of defining and pursuing one's rational self-interest. A code of rational self-interest rejects every form of human sacrifice, whether of oneself to others or of others to oneself.
Throughout ''Atlas Shrugged,'' numerous characters admit that there is something wrong with the world but they cannot put their finger on what it is. The concept they cannot grasp is the sanction of the victim. The first person to grasp the concept is John Galt, who vows to stop the motor of the world by getting the creators of the world to withhold their sanction.
We first glimpse the concept in section 121 when Hank Rearden feels he is duty-bound to support his family, despite their hostility towards him.
In section 146 the principle is stated explicitly by Dan Conway: "I suppose somebody's got to be sacrificed. If it turned out to be me, I have no right to complain."
''Atlas Shrugged'' endorses the belief that a society's best hope rests on its standing and continued existence as a meritocracy. The characters' positive or negative assessment appears to be due to their productivity and moral integrity, and is not necessarily reflected in their class background. Different social classes are represented among both the heroes and the villains of ''Atlas Shrugged''. Among the heroes, John Galt and Hank Rearden are from working class backgrounds, while Dagny Taggart and Francisco d'Anconia are from wealthy families. Among the villains, Fred Kinnan is from a working class background, while James Taggart and Betty Pope are from wealthy families.
Compare: Aristocracy
In rejecting the traditional altruistic moral code, Rand also rejects the sexual code that, in her view, is the logical implication of altruism.
Rand introduces a theory of sex in ''Atlas Shrugged'' that is based in her broader ethical and psychological theories. Far from being a debasing animal instinct, sex to Rand is the highest celebration of human values, a physical response to intellectual and spiritual values that gives concrete expression to what could otherwise only be experienced in the abstract.
In ''Atlas Shrugged'', characters are sexually attracted to those who embody their values. Characters who have "base" values are attracted to those that embody their "base" values. Characters who lack clear purpose find sex devoid of meaning. Characters with "higher" values respond sexually to those who embody them. This is illustrated in the contrasting relationships of Hank Rearden with Lillian Rearden and Dagny Taggart, and later with Taggart and John Galt; and by the relationships of James Taggart with Cherryl Brooks and later with Lillian Rearden.
Illustrations of this theory are found in:
★ – recounts Dagny's relationship with Francisco d'Anconia.
★ – recounts Hank and Lillian Rearden's courtship, and Lillian's attitude towards sex.
★ – recounts the value for value basis of Dagny's seemingly unconditional love for Rearden
The companies in ''Atlas Shrugged'' are generally divided into two groups: those that are operated by sympathetic characters are given the name of the owner, while companies operated by "evil" or incompetent characters are given generic names.
For example, Hank Rearden's companies are all named after him; Wyatt Oil after Ellis Wyatt; and Taggart Transcontinental and d'Anconia Copper are named after their founders (and, being family-held, their present owners). Nielsen Motors, Hammond Cars and Ayers Music Publishing are also presented as competent. Those who use their own names to name their companies become Strikers, with the minor exception of Mr. Ayers of the Ayers Music Publishing Company.
On the other hand, Orren Boyle named his government-dependent, influence-peddling company Associated Steel. Another company in the novel is the Amalgamated Switch and Signal Company, Inc. The exceptions here are the Phoenix Durango Railroad, which was run by a competent entrepreneur who becomes a Striker in his own way without joining the actual Strikers in Galt's Gulch, and the Twentieth Century Motor Company, originally run by Jed Starnes. The mismanagement of the Twentieth Century in the hands of Starnes' heirs first seeds the thoughts of a strike in John Galt's mind.
It should be noted that in actuality there had never been a US railway company such as Rand describes, maintaining tracks of its own all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Rather, in the United States, the term ''transcontinental railroad'' usually refers to a line over the Rocky Mountains between the Midwest and Pacific Ocean, and such companies tend to have the area of the Mississippi River as a transfer point with other companies active in the East.
Taggart Transcontinental in the later part of the book is driven to act in this manner and rely on other companies for the western part of its traffic; that is, however, an emergency measure which is part of the gradual collapse of the company (and the entire world) and Dagny is far from pleased with the need to resort to it.
By 1957, the date of the book's publication, railways were facing a decline that had begun in the 1920s. Passengers were increasingly switching to road transport. Air transport was also growing fast. (For details, see Amtrak; Passenger rail service before Amtrak.)
Because the book centers on industrial capitalism, Ayn Rand mentions many technologies throughout the book. In addition to normal technologies, she introduces several fictional inventions, including refractor rays (Gulch mirage), Rearden Metal, a sonic death ray ("Project X"), motors powered by static electricity, and a sophisticated electrical torture device.
Rearden metal is a fictitious metal alloy invented by Hank Rearden. It is lighter than traditional steel but stronger, and is to steel what steel was to iron. It is described as greenish-blue. Among its ingredients are iron and copper, two metals seldom found together in real-world alloys.
Initially, no one is willing to use Rearden metal because no one wants to stick his neck out and be the first to try it. Dagny Taggart places an order for Rearden metal when she needs rails to rebuild the dying Rio Norte Line. Once the metal is proven, the "looters" seek both to place it on the market for everyone, and also to deny it to the industrialists who would make the most profitable use of it. Later, the formula for the metal itself is extorted from Rearden and dubbed "Miracle Metal."
Project X, a.k.a. Project Xylophone, is an invention of the scientists at the State Science Institute, requiring tons of Rearden metal. It is a sonic weapon, capable of destroying everything in a 300-mile radius. The scientists claim that the project will be used to preserve peace and quash rebellion. The mechanism is destroyed towards the end of the book, and emits a sonic pulse that destroys everything in the surrounding area, including Cuffy Meigs and Dr. Stadler, as well as the Taggart Bridge.
John Galt invented a new type of electrical apparatus described in the book as a motor. This motor is revolutionary because it uses static electricity from the atmosphere as its main source of energy, requiring only a small amount of conventional fuel to run the conversion mechanism. This approximates a perpetual motion machine of the second kind, a machine which spontaneously converts thermal energy into mechanical work (versus conventional heat engines, which convert thermal energy into mechanical work by transferring thermal energy from one reservoir to another). The theory is that the power is drawn from the environment (possibly approximating the Casimir effect, though that was extremely obscure and scientifically controversial at the time Atlas Shrugged was written).
The book gives the source as static electricity from the air, and suggests that a new physics was necessary to tap it.
Dagny discovers a discarded prototype of the motor, and it is superficially described in section Part 1, Chapter 9. In Part 3, Chapter 1, Dagny learns that Galt is using a working version of the motor to generate electricity for Galt's Gulch.
A torture device invented by Dr. Floyd Ferris is introduced towards the end where John Galt is tortured. It consists of having the victim tied to a mattress with electrodes attached to the wrists, the ankles and the hips. Electricity is passed in various combinations (wrist-to-wrist, ankle-to-hip) to inflict pain on the victim. The electricity amount being passed through the victim is so calculated to cause maximum pain without inflicting any permanent physical damage to the victim. It is located in the Science Institute.
Rand also mentioned technologies that were unavailable at the time, but which have since been invented. Examples are voice activated door locks (Gulch power station), palm-activated door locks (Galt's NY lab), and shale-oil drilling.
John Galt's speech is the core of ''Atlas Shrugged''. In it, Galt explains the philosophy of Objectivism. The speech encompasses metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and political ideas.
The speech is very long, spanning 56 pages in one paperback edition (the only interruption occurs after the first paragraph), and appears in the chapter "This is John Galt Speaking" in the third section of the book.Atlas Shrugged, Centennial Edition, Signet, 1992.
''Atlas Shrugged'' was largely a critical failure and popular success.
It was reviewed shortly after its publication in 1957 by many major newspapers and magazines. The initial reviews were largely negative, criticizing both the book's literary qualities and its political vision.[2] Arguably, the bulk of critical discussion has focused on the latter. As Thomas Reed Whissen has said, “Rand's critics say that she cannot write, but one senses in such an indictment more of a political than a literary posture; for surely the enduring success of ''The Fountainhead'' — not to mention the enormously popular ''Atlas Shrugged'' — cannot be attributed to her philosophy alone. Her style may be somewhat overwrought and her characters cardboard, but she is a genius at plotting, and she knows how to tell a story.”[3]
The conservative magazine ''National Review'' commissioned a highly critical review (by Whittaker Chambers) arguing against the novel's implicit endorsement of atheism whereby "Randian man, like Marxian man is made the center of a godless world."[4] In response, the Objectivist magazine ''The Intellectual Activist'' argued that Chambers had not actually read the novel.[5]
Writer and former Objectivist George Saunders claims that the mentality of ''Atlas Shrugged'' is very similar to neoconservativism. He says the book tells people they are special without giving any proof of it, and equates weakness with evil. He also maintains that "Ayn Rand writes bad prose."[6]
Political critic Arianna Huffington asserts that Rand's vision of businessmen in ''Atlas Shrugged'' differs from how they act in reality. Rand's businessman is one "who earns what he gets and does not give or take the undeserved" and "does not ask to be paid for his failures, nor does he ask to be loved for his flaws," which, according to Huffington, contradicts how modern CEOs act, especially in the case of the Enron scandal.[7] The answer given by Rand supporters is that she does not imply, in ''Atlas Shrugged'' or elsewhere, that most businessmen live up to this ideal in practice.
Former Ayn Rand associate Nathaniel Branden argues that ''Atlas Shrugged'' "encourages emotional repression and self-disowning" and that it, along with Rand's other major Objectivist novel, ''The Fountainhead'', contains contradictory messages. Though he notes that the book shows that Rand understood the human need for social interaction, Branden claims that "rarely you find the heroes and heroine talking to each other on a simple, human level without launching into philosophical sermons," which he believes is used to increase the reader's self-alienation. He further questions the psychological impact of the novel, stating that John Galt's claim that contempt and moral condemnation are appropriate responses to wrongdoing clashes with the recommendations of psychologists, who say that this kind of behavior only causes the wrongdoing to repeat itself.[8]
On the other hand, Howard Dickman of ''Reader's Digest'' wrote that the novel had "turned millions of readers on to the ideas of liberty" and said that the book had the important message of the readers' "profound right to be happy". The libertarian Cato Institute held a joint conference with The Atlas Society, an Objectivist organization, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the publication of ''Atlas Shrugged''.[9] Conservative Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Clarence Thomas cites ''Atlas Shrugged'' as among his favorite novels,[10] as does neolibertarian Larry Elder.[11] In an article titled "Celebrity Rand Fans" in the Objectivist magazine ''The New Individualist'', Robert James Bidinotto traces the novel's growing influence among major Hollywood stars, sports champions, and public figures.[12]
Chip Mellor of the libertarian Institute for Justice writes that "whether they have adopted her philosophy wholeheartedly or found her writings of more transitory interest, countless individuals working to secure liberty have found inspiration in the works of Ayn Rand. With her unique ability to depict heroism, idealism, and romance behind the creativity of the individual, Rand inspires readers to come to the defense of free minds and free markets."[13]
In a three-month online poll[14][15] of reader selections of the hundred best novels of the twentieth century, administered by publisher Modern Library, ''Atlas Shrugged'' was voted number one, ahead of ''The Fountainhead'', ''Battlefield Earth'', and ''The Lord of the Rings'', while the list chosen by the Modern Library panel of authors and scholars contains no works by Rand.[16] The Modern Library's lists, particularly the reader selections, however, have come under heavy scrutiny as so unscientific as to be highly dubious in their representation of actual opinion (see Modern Library). Because ''Battlefield Earth'' and two other books by science fiction writer and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard were in the top ten, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ray Jenkins compares Rand's popularity to that of Hubbard, calling her "a goddess of a great American cult."[17] He goes on to point out that her works were "ignored or deplored by the critics of the day."
Literary critic Harold Bloom found ''Atlas Shrugged'' and Rand's other fiction to have enough significance to include her in a critical anthology he edited, ''American Women Fiction Writers, 1900-1960, Vol. Three'', (Chelsea House, 1998). The C-SPAN television series ''American Writers'' listed Rand as one of twenty-two surveyed figures of American literature, though primarily mentioning ''The Fountainhead'' rather than ''Atlas Shrugged''.[18]
Film rights to the novel ''Atlas Shrugged'' were purchased by the Baldwin Entertainment Group in 2003. Lions Gate Entertainment has picked up worldwide distribution rights; James V. Hart has written the first draft two-part screenplay, and his screenplay is now being fully developed by writer-director Randall Wallace; Angelina Jolie has been confirmed to play the role of Dagny Taggart,[19] and Brad Pitt is rumored to be cast as John Galt.[20] Both are fans of Rand's works. The film adaptation is projected to be made as a trilogy, with staggered release-dates for each of the three films.
According to IMDb, as of September 5, 2007, the ''Atlas Shrugged'' project is "Back in development." [21] Lionsgate has hired director Vadim Perelman to direct the film. [1]
★ I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle.
★ The view that man was ever to be drawn by some vision of the unattainable shining ahead, doomed ever to aspire, but not to achieve. My life and my values could not bring me to that, I had never found beauty in longing for the impossible and had never found the possible to be beyond my reach.
★ I take no pride in hopeless longing; I wouldn’t hold a stillborn aspiration. I’d want to have it, to make it, to live it.
★ I never wondered whether some mysterious omnipotence had favored me with some unknowable talent to achieve the things I wanted.
★ I do not think that tragedy is our natural fate and I do not live in chronic dread of disaster. I do not expect disaster until I have specific reason to expect it—and when I encounter it, I am free to fight it. It is not happiness, but suffering that I consider unnatural. It is not success, but calamity that I regard as the abnormal exception in human life.
★ Every form of happiness is one, every desire is driven by the same motor—by our love for a single value, for the highest potentiality of our own existence—and every achievement is an expression of it. No one’s happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy.
★ There is no meaning in motors or factories or trains, that their only meaning is in man’s enjoyment of his life, which they served—and that my swelling admiration at the sight of an achievement was for the man from whom it came, for the power and the radiant vision within him which had seen the earth as a place of enjoyment and had known that the work of achieving one’s happiness was the purpose, the sanction and the meaning of life.
★ Every man builds his world in his own image; he has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice. If he abdicates his power, he abdicates the status of man, and the grinding chaos of the irrational is what he achieves as his sphere of existence—by his own choice. Whoever preserves a single thought uncorrupted by any concession to the will of others, whoever brings into reality a match stick or a patch of garden made in the image of his thought –he, an to that extent, is a man and that extent is the sole measure of his virtue.
★ If you fail, as men have failed in their quest for a vision that should have been possible, yet has remained forever beyond their reach—if, like them, you come to think that one’s highest values are not to be attained and one’s greatest vision is not to be made real don’t damn this earth, as they did, don’t damn existence.
★ What is Morality?
★ Judgment to distinguish right and wrong, vision to see the truth, courage to act upon it, dedication to that which is good, integrity to stand by the good at any price.
★ Joy is the goal of existence, and joy is not to be stumbled upon, but to be achieved, and the act of treason is to let its vision drown in the swamp of the moment’s torture.
★ Yet these had been her stars—she thought, looking down at the lights of a town, like a handful of gold coins flung upon the prairie, the brightly violent lights fed by an electric current, these had been her goal, her beacon, the aspiration drawing her upon her upward course. That which others claimed to feel at the sight of the stars—stars safely distant by millions of years and thus imposing no obligation to act, but serving as the tinsel of futility—she had felt at the sight of electric bulbs lighting the streets of a town. It was this earth below that had been the height she wanted to reach.
★ In the ''Futurama'' episode "I Second That Emotion", the 'library' in the mutants' village is a lone bookshelf stocking literary items flushed down toilets from above. When Bender takes a look on it, he finds ''Atlas Shrugged'' and says "Nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand."
★ In the ''South Park'' episode "Chicken Lover", Officer Barbrady reads ''Atlas Shrugged'' after overcoming his illiteracy. He later states to the town that he "read every last word of this piece of garbage" and because he did so "will never read anything ever again".
★ "WhoIsJohnGalt" is a cheat code in Blizzard Entertainment's ''Warcraft III''. The cheat speeds up research of new technologies.
★ In the Marvel comic book ''X-Factor'', the mysterious, precognitive teenage character Layla Miller is seen reading ''Atlas Shrugged'', which makes the other characters slightly uneasy.
★ In an episode of ''Beverly Hills 90210'', Kelly Taylor can be seen reading a hard-cover version of ''Atlas Shrugged'', with the camera resting on the book for a lengthy period of time before moving off.
★ In ''Undeclared'' episode "Addicts", several of the main characters write a report on the novel. One of them declares it "not bad".
★ Fashion designer and visual artist Sean D'Anconia often slips in hidden references to ''Atlas Shrugged'' in his designs and avante-guard advertisements, appearing regularly in ''Flaunt'' and ''YRB Magazine''.[22]
★ The story "The Rogue" by Science Fiction writer Poul Anderson seems to transfer many of the themes of ''Atlas Shrugged'' to a futuristic setting. In the story (later collected in Anderson's ''Tales of the Flying Mountains'') the thriving and fast-expanding American mining colonies in the Asteroid Belt are a haven of capitalist enterprise, reminiscent of Colorado in Rand's book. People like the protagonist, mining tycoon Michael Blades (who has many resemblances to the industrialists in ''Atlas Shrugged'') can and do get personally wealthy - which is virtually impossible in the earthbound USA where the Social Justice Party holds power in Washington. A space warship arrives from Earth, with its secret mission to arrange an "accident" that will put Blades out of business. The resulting confrontation touches off a rebellion which eventually leads the asteroid colonies to start a war of independence and set up their own republic. It is unknown, however, whether Anderson was influenced directly by Rand's book, or developed similar themes independently.
★ Another well-known Science Fiction writer, Robert A. Heinlein, pays Rand's book an explicit tribute in his ''The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress'' - like the above Anderson book, dealing with a rebellion of space colonists (on the Moon in this case). In one passage of the book the rebels describe their leader, the sentient computer "Mike", as "Our John Galt".
★ In the Dean Koontz novel ''Mr. Murder'', two characters take on assumed names John and Ann Gault in order to hide from an evil secret government agency.
★ In the newspaper cartoon ''Zits'', Jeremy's friend Pierce declares ''Atlas Shrugged'' to be his favorite novel because it is thick enough to use as a pillow in the school library.
★ In an episode of ''The Simpsons'' called A Streetcar Named Marge, Maggie attends the Ayn Rand School for Tots. A poster on the wall reads "A is A," the title of Part Three of ''Atlas Shrugged.''
★ The video game ''BioShock'' is heavily influenced by the works of Ayn Rand and ''Atlas Shrugged'' in particular. The underwater society portrayed in the game is governed by Randian ideals. This society was created by a character named Andrew Ryan, whose name is a deliberate reference to Rand. Another one of the characters in the game called Atlas, who maintains contact with the player throughout the game via radio.
★ In the second episode of ''One Tree Hill'', Lucas Scott is given a copy of ''Atlas Shrugged'' by fellow teammate Jake Jagielski. Lucas is struggling with whether to continue playing for his high school basketball team, the Ravens, after having a horrible first game and losing his ability to shoot. His estranged father Dan has convinced Nathan, Dan's other son and Lucas' half brother, to force Lucas off the team so that college scouts can be focused exclusively on Nathan. Jake tells Lucas, "You're gonna be alright. Just don't let them take it from you." Confused, Lucas replies that he doesn't know what that means. Jake motions to the book and says, "You will."
★ In a Perry Mason TV movie from the 1990s, ''The Case of the Reckless Romeo'', a TV talk show host writes a tell-all bestseller revealing the details of several affairs. He is killed by a very jealous Miss Rand. There is another witness named Miss Rearden.
★ The book ''Sewer, Gas and Electric'' by Matt Ruff is a science fiction book largely critical of Ayn Rand and many specific concepts in ''Atlas Shrugged''. It also includes a small device that contains an electronic ghost of Ayn Rand. She comments on actions in the story and has many of her ideas refuted by the characters in the novel.
★ On the back cover of the book '', Ayn Rand is parodied in this quote of praise: "This is similar to my works in that anyone who reads it is sure to be an asshole for at least a month afterward."
★ The “brain drain” in Frank Miller’s ''Martha Washington Goes to War'' was acknowledged by Miller in the letter column as being a reference to ''Atlas Shrugged''.
★ Episode of "Mad Men" on AMC. The show is set in the 1960's world of traveling salesmen and "ad men". The head of the ad agency where the show is set tells his protege, Don Draper, that he is motivated by "rational self interest" and the two are alike in that regard. The boss points to the book "Atlas Shrugged" on his credenza and recommends it to Draper, then gives him a huge bonus, which leaves Draper, and possibly the viewer, somewhat puzzled.
★ James Clavell
★ Laissez-faire capitalism
★ Dystopia
★ Transcontinental railroad
1. Rand, Ayn. ''Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.'' (1986) Signet. ISBN 0451147952 p.150
2. See http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/books/rand/atlas/, retrieved August 9, 2006, for a list of reviews and bibliographical information.
3. Thomas Reed Whissen, ''Classic Cult Fiction: A Companion to Popular Cult Literature'', Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, 1992.
4. Chambers, Whittaker. "Big Sister Is Watching You." ''National Review''. December 28, 1957.
5. Tracinski, Robert W. "A Half-Century-Old Attack on Ayn Rand Reminds Us of the Dark Side of Conservatism". ''Capitalism Magazine''. January 6, 2005.
6. Bemis, Alec Hanley. "Mean Snacks and Monkey Shit: Talking bananas with George Saunders". ''LA Weekly''. May 10, 2006.
7. Huffington, Arianna. "The Enron bonus plan". ''Salon.com''. April 20, 2002.
8. Branden, Nathaniel. "The Benefits and Hazards of the Philosophy of Ayn Rand: A Personal Statement". 1984.
9. "Cato Events: Hundreds Gather to Celebrate Atlas Shrugged". ''Cato Policy Report''. November/December 1997.
10. Bidinotto, Robert James. "Celebrity 'Rand Fans' – Clarence Thomas". Retrieved May 26, 2006.
11. Larry Elder Recommended Books, Larry Elder.com, Retrieved June 13, 2007
12. Celebrity Rand Fans, ''The New Individualist'', Retrieved June 13, 2007
13. Thinkers of Freedom and IJ, Institute for Justice, Retrieved June 13, 2007
14. Subject of article: Headlam, Bruce. "Forget Joyce; Bring on Ayn Rand." ''The New York Times'' July 30, 1998, G4 (Late Edition, East Coast).
15. Subject of article: Yardley, Jonathan. "The Voice of the People Speaks. Too Bad It Doesn't Have Much to Say." ''The Washington Post'' August 10, 1998, D2 (Final Edition). Retrieved from ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
16. "100 Best Novels". ''RandomHouse.com''. Retrieved June 20, 2006.
17. Jenkins, Ray. "Ayn Rand after a century: Who was she – and why?" ''Baltimore Sun'' February 16, 2003. Retrieved from http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general531.html.
18. C-SPAN American Writers: Ayn Rand
19. McClintock, Pamela. "Jolie shoulders 'Atlas' : Thesp slated for Rand adaptation". ''Variety''. September 21, 2006
20. McClintock, Pamela. "Lionsgate shrugging: 'Atlas' pic mapped". ''Variety''. April 26, 2006
21. Atlas Shrugged at IMDb.
22. Flaunt Magazine Ad
★ ''Atlas Shrugged'', Ayn Rand; Signet; (September 1996) ISBN 0-451-19114-5
★ ''Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes)'', Andrew Bernstein; CliffsNotes; (June 5, 2000) ISBN 0-7645-8556-8
★ ''The World of Atlas Shrugged'', Robert Bidinotto/The Objectivist Center; HighBridge Company; (April 19, 2001) ISBN 1-56511-471-X
★ ''Atlas Shrugged: Manifesto of the Mind (Twayne's Masterwork Studies, No. 174)'' Mimi Reisel Gladstein; Twayne Pub; (June 2000) ISBN 0-8057-1638-6
★ ''The Moral Revolution in Atlas Shrugged'', Nathaniel Branden; The Objectivist Center; (July 1999) ISBN 1-57724-033-2
★ ''Odysseus, Jesus, and Dagny'', Susan McCloskey; The Objectivist Center; (August 1, 1998) ISBN 1-57724-025-1
★ Dutch: ''Atlas in Staking'', published by the "De Boekenmaker", www.boekenmaker.nl, tel: +31-75-61471772 (Krommenie, 2006).
★ French: ''La révolte d'Atlas'', 2 vol. (Paris 1958 et 1959, Editions Jeheber)
★ German: ''Wer ist John Galt?'' (Hamburg, Germany: GEWIS Verlag), ISBN 3-932564-03-0.
★ Italian: ''La rivolta di Atlante'', 2 vol. (Milano, Garzanti, 1958), Out of print. Translator: Laura Grimaldi
★ Japanese: ''肩をすくめるアトラス'' (ビジネス社), ISBN 4-8284-1149-6. Translator: 脇坂 あゆみ.
★ Norwegian: ''De som beveger verden''. (Kagge Forlag, 2000), ISBN 82-489-0083-5 (hardcover), ISBN 82-489-0169-6 (paperback). Translator: John Erik Bøe Lindgren.
★ Polish: ''Atlas Zbuntowany'' (Zysk i S-ka, 2004), ISBN 83-7150-969-3 (hardcover). Translator: Iwona Michałowska.
★ Portuguese: ''Quem é John Galt?'' (Editora Expressão e Cultura), ISBN 85-208-0248-6 (paperback). Translator: Paulo Henriques Britto.
★ Russian: ''Атлант расправил плечи'' (Издательство Альпина Бизнес Букс, 2007 г.), ISBN 978-5-9614-0603-0. Translator: Ю.Соколов, В.Вебер, Д.Вознякевич.
★ Spanish: ''La rebelión de Atlas.'' (Editorial Grito Sagrado), ISBN 987-20951-0-8 (hardcover), ISBN 987-20951-1-6 (paperback).
★ Swedish: ''Och världen skälvde.'' (Timbro Förlag, 2005), ISBN 91-7566-556-5. Translator: Maud Freccero.
★ Turkish: ''Atlas Vazgeçti.'' (Plato Yayınları, 2003), ISBN 975-96772-6-1. Translator: Belkıs Çorapçı.
★ Website dedicated to Ayn Rand's novels
★ Timeline of major events in the novel
★ Cast of characters in the novel
★ Excerpt from ''Atlas Shrugged'' at the ARI
★ A negative review from the December 28, 1957 issue of ''National Review'' by Whittaker Chambers.
★ A critique of the Chambers review, claiming that Chambers did not actually read the novel
''' Atlas Shrugged ''' is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. It was Rand's last work of fiction before concentrating her writings exclusively on philosophy, politics and cultural criticism. At over one thousand pages in length, she considered it her ''magnum opus''. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism.
Philosophy and writing
The theme of ''Atlas Shrugged'' is the role of the mind in man's existence and, consequently, presentation of the morality of rational self-interest.[1]
The main conflict of the book occurs as the "individuals of the mind" go on strike, refusing to contribute their inventions, art, business leadership, scientific research, or new ideas of any kind to the rest of the world. Society, they believe, hampers them by interfering with their work and underpays them by confiscating the profits and dignity they have rightfully earned. The peaceful cohesiveness of the world requires those individuals whose productive work comes from mental effort. But feeling they have no alternative, they eventually start disappearing from the communities of "looters" and "moochers" who bleed them dry. The strikers believe that they are crucial to a society that exploits them, and the near-total collapse of civilization triggered by their strike shows them to be correct.
Like the Greek Titan Atlas, individuals rationally and circumspectly seeking their own long-term happiness believe that they hold the world on their shoulders. The novel's title is an allusion to the Titan, discussing what might happen if those supporting the world suddenly decided to stop doing so. In the novel, the allusion comes during a conversation between two protagonists, Francisco d'Anconia and Hank Rearden, near the end of part two, chapter three, where Francisco suggests to Rearden that if he could suggest to Atlas that he do one thing, it would be to shrug.
In the world of ''Atlas Shrugged'', society stagnated when independent productive achievers began to be socially demonized and even punished for their accomplishments, even though society had been far more healthy and prosperous by allowing, encouraging and rewarding self-reliance and individual achievement. Independence and personal happiness flourished to the extent that people were free, and achievement was rewarded to the extent that individual ownership of private property was strictly respected. The hero, John Galt, lives a life of laissez-faire capitalism as the only way to live consistent with his beliefs.
''Atlas Shrugged'' is a political book. It portrays fascism, socialism, democracy, capitalism and communism – any form of state intervention in society – as systemically and fatally flawed. However, Rand claimed that it is not a ''fundamentally'' political book, but that the politics portrayed in the novel are a result of her attempt to display her image of the ideal person and the individual mind's position and value in society.
Rand argues that independence and individual achievement enable society to survive and thrive, and should be embraced. But this requires a "rational" moral code. She argues that, over time, coerced self-sacrifice causes any society to self-destruct.
She is similarly dismissive of faith beyond reason, in a god or higher being, or anything else as an authority over one's own mind. The book positions itself against religion specifically, often directly within the characters' dialogue.
Setting
Galt's Gulch was inspired by Ouray, Colorado. It was here that Rand found inspiration to complete the novel, though she greatly expanded the small valley to include her many ideas for the story.
Exactly when ''Atlas Shrugged'' is meant to take place is kept deliberately vague. In 152, the population of is given as 7 million. The historical New York City reached 7 million people in the 1930s, which might place the novel sometime after that. There are many early 20th century technologies available, but the political situation is clearly different from actual history. One interpretation is that the novel takes place many years in the future, implying that since the world lapsed into its socialistic morass, a global stagnation has occurred in technological growth, population growth, and indeed growth of ''any'' kind; the wars, economic depressions, and other events of the 20th century would be a distant memory to all but scholars and academicians. This would be in line with Rand's ideas and commentary on other novels depicting Utopian and dystopian societies. Furthermore, this is also in line with an excerpt from a 1964 interview with ''Playboy'' magazine in which Rand states "What we have today is not a capitalist society, but a mixed economy – that is, a mixture of freedom and controls, which, by the presently dominant trend, is moving toward dictatorship. The action in ''Atlas Shrugged'' takes place at a time when society has reached the stage of dictatorship. When and if this happens, that will be the time to go on strike, but not until then," thus implying that her novel takes place at some point in the future. The concept of societal stagnation in the wake of collectivist systems is central to the plot of another of Rand's works, ''Anthem''.
In ''Atlas Shrugged,'' all countries outside the US have become, or become during the novel, "People's States". There are many examples of early 20th century technology in ''Atlas Shrugged'', but no post-war advances such as nuclear weapons, helicopters, or computers. Jet planes are mentioned briefly as being a relatively new technology. Television is a novelty that has yet to assume any cultural significance, while radio broadcasts are prominent (in fact, television only makes its first appearance later on in the book, reflecting the fact that television appeared in the fifties, i.e., during the ten years it took to write the book). Although Rand does not use many of the technological innovations available while she was writing in the book, she introduces some advanced, fictional inventions (e.g., sonic-based weapons of mass destruction, torture devices, as well as power plants and a highly advanced strong steel alloy).
Most of the action in ''Atlas Shrugged'' occurs in the . However, there are important events around the world, such as in the People's States of Mexico, Chile, and Argentina, and piracy at sea.
Plot
The novel's plot is split into three parts. The first two parts, and to some extent the last, follow Dagny Taggart, a no-nonsense railroad executive, and her attempt to keep the company alive despite repeated encroachments by a society falling toward collectivism, altruism, and statism. All throughout the novel people repeat a platitude Dagny greatly resents: "Who is John Galt?" It is a reflection of their helplessness, as the saying means "Don't ask important questions, because we don't have answers."
The leaders and innovators of industry in the world seem to be disappearing, and the apparent decline of civilization is making it more and more difficult for her to sustain her life-long aspirations of running the trans-continental railroad, which has been in her family for several generations. She deals with other characters who often personify archetypes of what Rand considers the various schools of philosophy for living and working in the world (though they are in most cases often unconscious of it).
Some of these are: Hank Rearden, a self-made businessman of great integrity whose career is hindered by his feelings of obligation toward his wife. Francisco d'Anconia, Dagny's childhood friend, first love, and king of the copper industry, appears to have become a worthless playboy who is purposely destroying his business. Dagny's brother, president of the railroad, who seems peripherally aware of the troubles facing the company and the country in general, but who almost always makes the most short term and ultimately self-destructive choice.
As the novel progresses, the myths about the real John Galt, as well as Francisco d'Anconia's actions, increasingly become a reflection of the state of the culture and seem to make more and more sense. Hank and Dagny begin to experience the futility of their attempts to survive in a society that hates them and those like them for their greatness.
Dagny and Hank find the remnants of a motor that turns atmospheric static electricity into kinetic energy, an astounding feat; they also find evidence that the minds (the "Atlases") of the world are disappearing because of one particular "destroyer" taking them away. Dagny and Hank deal with the irrationalities and apparent contradictions of their atmosphere, and search for the creator of the motor as well as "the destroyer" who is draining the world of its prime movers, in an effort to secure their ability to live rational lives.
The question "Who is John Galt?" is also answered towards the closing of the novel — John Galt is a man disgusted that non-productive members of society use laws and guilt to leech from the value created by productive members of society. He made a pledge that he would never live his life for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for him, and founded an enclave, separate from the rest of the country, where he and other productive members of society have fled.
Social concepts
Looters and moochers
Rand's heroes must continually fight against the "looters" and "moochers" of the society surrounding them.
The looters are those who confiscate others' earnings "at the point of a gun" (figuratively speaking)—often because they are government officials, and thus their demands are backed by the threat of force. Some looters are following the policies of the government, such as the officials who confiscate one state's seed grain to feed the starving citizens of another state; others are exploiting those policies, such as the railroad regulator who illegally sells the railroad's supplies on the side. The common factor is that both use force to take property from the people who produced or earned it, and both are ultimately destructive.
The moochers are those who demand others' earnings because they claim to be needy and unable to earn themselves. Even as they beg for their help, however, they curse the people who make that help possible, because they hate the talented for having the talent they don't possess. Although the moochers seem benign at first glance, they are portrayed as more destructive than the looters—they destroy the productive through guilt and often motivate the legal looting performed by governments.
Looting and mooching are seen at all levels of the world ''Atlas Shrugged'' portrays, from the looting officials Dagny Taggart must work around and the mooching brother Hank Rearden struggles with, to the looting of whole industries by companies like Associated Steel and the mooching demands for foreign aid by the starving countries of Europe.
Sanction of the victim
The ''Sanction of the victim'' is defined as "the willingness of the good to suffer at the hands of the evil, to accept the role of sacrificial victim for the 'sin' of creating values."
The entire story of ''Atlas Shrugged'' can be seen as an answer to the question, what would happen if this sanction were revoked? When Atlas shrugs, relieving himself of the burden of carrying the world, he is revoking his sanction.
The concept may be original in the thinking of Ayn Rand and is foundational to her moral theory. She holds that evil is a parasite on the good and can only exist if the good tolerates it. To quote from Galt's Speech: "Evil is impotent and has no power but that which we let it extort from us," and, "I saw that evil was impotent...and the only weapon of its triumph was the willingness of the good to serve it." Morality requires that we do not sanction our own victimhood, Rand claims. In adhering to this concept, Rand assigns virtue to the trait of rational selfishness. However, Rand contends that moral selfishness does not mean a license to do whatever one pleases, guided by whims. It means the exacting discipline of defining and pursuing one's rational self-interest. A code of rational self-interest rejects every form of human sacrifice, whether of oneself to others or of others to oneself.
Throughout ''Atlas Shrugged,'' numerous characters admit that there is something wrong with the world but they cannot put their finger on what it is. The concept they cannot grasp is the sanction of the victim. The first person to grasp the concept is John Galt, who vows to stop the motor of the world by getting the creators of the world to withhold their sanction.
We first glimpse the concept in section 121 when Hank Rearden feels he is duty-bound to support his family, despite their hostility towards him.
In section 146 the principle is stated explicitly by Dan Conway: "I suppose somebody's got to be sacrificed. If it turned out to be me, I have no right to complain."
Social classes
''Atlas Shrugged'' endorses the belief that a society's best hope rests on its standing and continued existence as a meritocracy. The characters' positive or negative assessment appears to be due to their productivity and moral integrity, and is not necessarily reflected in their class background. Different social classes are represented among both the heroes and the villains of ''Atlas Shrugged''. Among the heroes, John Galt and Hank Rearden are from working class backgrounds, while Dagny Taggart and Francisco d'Anconia are from wealthy families. Among the villains, Fred Kinnan is from a working class background, while James Taggart and Betty Pope are from wealthy families.
Compare: Aristocracy
Theory of sex
In rejecting the traditional altruistic moral code, Rand also rejects the sexual code that, in her view, is the logical implication of altruism.
Rand introduces a theory of sex in ''Atlas Shrugged'' that is based in her broader ethical and psychological theories. Far from being a debasing animal instinct, sex to Rand is the highest celebration of human values, a physical response to intellectual and spiritual values that gives concrete expression to what could otherwise only be experienced in the abstract.
In ''Atlas Shrugged'', characters are sexually attracted to those who embody their values. Characters who have "base" values are attracted to those that embody their "base" values. Characters who lack clear purpose find sex devoid of meaning. Characters with "higher" values respond sexually to those who embody them. This is illustrated in the contrasting relationships of Hank Rearden with Lillian Rearden and Dagny Taggart, and later with Taggart and John Galt; and by the relationships of James Taggart with Cherryl Brooks and later with Lillian Rearden.
Illustrations of this theory are found in:
★ – recounts Dagny's relationship with Francisco d'Anconia.
★ – recounts Hank and Lillian Rearden's courtship, and Lillian's attitude towards sex.
★ – recounts the value for value basis of Dagny's seemingly unconditional love for Rearden
Companies
The companies in ''Atlas Shrugged'' are generally divided into two groups: those that are operated by sympathetic characters are given the name of the owner, while companies operated by "evil" or incompetent characters are given generic names.
For example, Hank Rearden's companies are all named after him; Wyatt Oil after Ellis Wyatt; and Taggart Transcontinental and d'Anconia Copper are named after their founders (and, being family-held, their present owners). Nielsen Motors, Hammond Cars and Ayers Music Publishing are also presented as competent. Those who use their own names to name their companies become Strikers, with the minor exception of Mr. Ayers of the Ayers Music Publishing Company.
On the other hand, Orren Boyle named his government-dependent, influence-peddling company Associated Steel. Another company in the novel is the Amalgamated Switch and Signal Company, Inc. The exceptions here are the Phoenix Durango Railroad, which was run by a competent entrepreneur who becomes a Striker in his own way without joining the actual Strikers in Galt's Gulch, and the Twentieth Century Motor Company, originally run by Jed Starnes. The mismanagement of the Twentieth Century in the hands of Starnes' heirs first seeds the thoughts of a strike in John Galt's mind.
Comparison with real-life railways
It should be noted that in actuality there had never been a US railway company such as Rand describes, maintaining tracks of its own all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Rather, in the United States, the term ''transcontinental railroad'' usually refers to a line over the Rocky Mountains between the Midwest and Pacific Ocean, and such companies tend to have the area of the Mississippi River as a transfer point with other companies active in the East.
Taggart Transcontinental in the later part of the book is driven to act in this manner and rely on other companies for the western part of its traffic; that is, however, an emergency measure which is part of the gradual collapse of the company (and the entire world) and Dagny is far from pleased with the need to resort to it.
By 1957, the date of the book's publication, railways were facing a decline that had begun in the 1920s. Passengers were increasingly switching to road transport. Air transport was also growing fast. (For details, see Amtrak; Passenger rail service before Amtrak.)
Fictional technology
Because the book centers on industrial capitalism, Ayn Rand mentions many technologies throughout the book. In addition to normal technologies, she introduces several fictional inventions, including refractor rays (Gulch mirage), Rearden Metal, a sonic death ray ("Project X"), motors powered by static electricity, and a sophisticated electrical torture device.
Rearden metal
Rearden metal is a fictitious metal alloy invented by Hank Rearden. It is lighter than traditional steel but stronger, and is to steel what steel was to iron. It is described as greenish-blue. Among its ingredients are iron and copper, two metals seldom found together in real-world alloys.
Initially, no one is willing to use Rearden metal because no one wants to stick his neck out and be the first to try it. Dagny Taggart places an order for Rearden metal when she needs rails to rebuild the dying Rio Norte Line. Once the metal is proven, the "looters" seek both to place it on the market for everyone, and also to deny it to the industrialists who would make the most profitable use of it. Later, the formula for the metal itself is extorted from Rearden and dubbed "Miracle Metal."
Project X
Project X, a.k.a. Project Xylophone, is an invention of the scientists at the State Science Institute, requiring tons of Rearden metal. It is a sonic weapon, capable of destroying everything in a 300-mile radius. The scientists claim that the project will be used to preserve peace and quash rebellion. The mechanism is destroyed towards the end of the book, and emits a sonic pulse that destroys everything in the surrounding area, including Cuffy Meigs and Dr. Stadler, as well as the Taggart Bridge.
Galt's motor
John Galt invented a new type of electrical apparatus described in the book as a motor. This motor is revolutionary because it uses static electricity from the atmosphere as its main source of energy, requiring only a small amount of conventional fuel to run the conversion mechanism. This approximates a perpetual motion machine of the second kind, a machine which spontaneously converts thermal energy into mechanical work (versus conventional heat engines, which convert thermal energy into mechanical work by transferring thermal energy from one reservoir to another). The theory is that the power is drawn from the environment (possibly approximating the Casimir effect, though that was extremely obscure and scientifically controversial at the time Atlas Shrugged was written).
The book gives the source as static electricity from the air, and suggests that a new physics was necessary to tap it.
Dagny discovers a discarded prototype of the motor, and it is superficially described in section Part 1, Chapter 9. In Part 3, Chapter 1, Dagny learns that Galt is using a working version of the motor to generate electricity for Galt's Gulch.
Project F
A torture device invented by Dr. Floyd Ferris is introduced towards the end where John Galt is tortured. It consists of having the victim tied to a mattress with electrodes attached to the wrists, the ankles and the hips. Electricity is passed in various combinations (wrist-to-wrist, ankle-to-hip) to inflict pain on the victim. The electricity amount being passed through the victim is so calculated to cause maximum pain without inflicting any permanent physical damage to the victim. It is located in the Science Institute.
Advanced technology
Rand also mentioned technologies that were unavailable at the time, but which have since been invented. Examples are voice activated door locks (Gulch power station), palm-activated door locks (Galt's NY lab), and shale-oil drilling.
Galt's speech
John Galt's speech is the core of ''Atlas Shrugged''. In it, Galt explains the philosophy of Objectivism. The speech encompasses metaphysical, epistemological, ethical, and political ideas.
The speech is very long, spanning 56 pages in one paperback edition (the only interruption occurs after the first paragraph), and appears in the chapter "This is John Galt Speaking" in the third section of the book.Atlas Shrugged, Centennial Edition, Signet, 1992.
Reception
''Atlas Shrugged'' was largely a critical failure and popular success.
It was reviewed shortly after its publication in 1957 by many major newspapers and magazines. The initial reviews were largely negative, criticizing both the book's literary qualities and its political vision.[2] Arguably, the bulk of critical discussion has focused on the latter. As Thomas Reed Whissen has said, “Rand's critics say that she cannot write, but one senses in such an indictment more of a political than a literary posture; for surely the enduring success of ''The Fountainhead'' — not to mention the enormously popular ''Atlas Shrugged'' — cannot be attributed to her philosophy alone. Her style may be somewhat overwrought and her characters cardboard, but she is a genius at plotting, and she knows how to tell a story.”[3]
The conservative magazine ''National Review'' commissioned a highly critical review (by Whittaker Chambers) arguing against the novel's implicit endorsement of atheism whereby "Randian man, like Marxian man is made the center of a godless world."[4] In response, the Objectivist magazine ''The Intellectual Activist'' argued that Chambers had not actually read the novel.[5]
Writer and former Objectivist George Saunders claims that the mentality of ''Atlas Shrugged'' is very similar to neoconservativism. He says the book tells people they are special without giving any proof of it, and equates weakness with evil. He also maintains that "Ayn Rand writes bad prose."[6]
Political critic Arianna Huffington asserts that Rand's vision of businessmen in ''Atlas Shrugged'' differs from how they act in reality. Rand's businessman is one "who earns what he gets and does not give or take the undeserved" and "does not ask to be paid for his failures, nor does he ask to be loved for his flaws," which, according to Huffington, contradicts how modern CEOs act, especially in the case of the Enron scandal.[7] The answer given by Rand supporters is that she does not imply, in ''Atlas Shrugged'' or elsewhere, that most businessmen live up to this ideal in practice.
Former Ayn Rand associate Nathaniel Branden argues that ''Atlas Shrugged'' "encourages emotional repression and self-disowning" and that it, along with Rand's other major Objectivist novel, ''The Fountainhead'', contains contradictory messages. Though he notes that the book shows that Rand understood the human need for social interaction, Branden claims that "rarely you find the heroes and heroine talking to each other on a simple, human level without launching into philosophical sermons," which he believes is used to increase the reader's self-alienation. He further questions the psychological impact of the novel, stating that John Galt's claim that contempt and moral condemnation are appropriate responses to wrongdoing clashes with the recommendations of psychologists, who say that this kind of behavior only causes the wrongdoing to repeat itself.[8]
On the other hand, Howard Dickman of ''Reader's Digest'' wrote that the novel had "turned millions of readers on to the ideas of liberty" and said that the book had the important message of the readers' "profound right to be happy". The libertarian Cato Institute held a joint conference with The Atlas Society, an Objectivist organization, to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the publication of ''Atlas Shrugged''.[9] Conservative Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Clarence Thomas cites ''Atlas Shrugged'' as among his favorite novels,[10] as does neolibertarian Larry Elder.[11] In an article titled "Celebrity Rand Fans" in the Objectivist magazine ''The New Individualist'', Robert James Bidinotto traces the novel's growing influence among major Hollywood stars, sports champions, and public figures.[12]
Chip Mellor of the libertarian Institute for Justice writes that "whether they have adopted her philosophy wholeheartedly or found her writings of more transitory interest, countless individuals working to secure liberty have found inspiration in the works of Ayn Rand. With her unique ability to depict heroism, idealism, and romance behind the creativity of the individual, Rand inspires readers to come to the defense of free minds and free markets."[13]
In a three-month online poll[14][15] of reader selections of the hundred best novels of the twentieth century, administered by publisher Modern Library, ''Atlas Shrugged'' was voted number one, ahead of ''The Fountainhead'', ''Battlefield Earth'', and ''The Lord of the Rings'', while the list chosen by the Modern Library panel of authors and scholars contains no works by Rand.[16] The Modern Library's lists, particularly the reader selections, however, have come under heavy scrutiny as so unscientific as to be highly dubious in their representation of actual opinion (see Modern Library). Because ''Battlefield Earth'' and two other books by science fiction writer and Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard were in the top ten, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ray Jenkins compares Rand's popularity to that of Hubbard, calling her "a goddess of a great American cult."[17] He goes on to point out that her works were "ignored or deplored by the critics of the day."
Literary critic Harold Bloom found ''Atlas Shrugged'' and Rand's other fiction to have enough significance to include her in a critical anthology he edited, ''American Women Fiction Writers, 1900-1960, Vol. Three'', (Chelsea House, 1998). The C-SPAN television series ''American Writers'' listed Rand as one of twenty-two surveyed figures of American literature, though primarily mentioning ''The Fountainhead'' rather than ''Atlas Shrugged''.[18]
Film adaptation
Film rights to the novel ''Atlas Shrugged'' were purchased by the Baldwin Entertainment Group in 2003. Lions Gate Entertainment has picked up worldwide distribution rights; James V. Hart has written the first draft two-part screenplay, and his screenplay is now being fully developed by writer-director Randall Wallace; Angelina Jolie has been confirmed to play the role of Dagny Taggart,[19] and Brad Pitt is rumored to be cast as John Galt.[20] Both are fans of Rand's works. The film adaptation is projected to be made as a trilogy, with staggered release-dates for each of the three films.
According to IMDb, as of September 5, 2007, the ''Atlas Shrugged'' project is "Back in development." [21] Lionsgate has hired director Vadim Perelman to direct the film. [1]
Quotes
★ I started my life with a single absolute: that the world was mine to shape in the image of my highest values and never to be given up to a lesser standard, no matter how long or hard the struggle.
★ The view that man was ever to be drawn by some vision of the unattainable shining ahead, doomed ever to aspire, but not to achieve. My life and my values could not bring me to that, I had never found beauty in longing for the impossible and had never found the possible to be beyond my reach.
★ I take no pride in hopeless longing; I wouldn’t hold a stillborn aspiration. I’d want to have it, to make it, to live it.
★ I never wondered whether some mysterious omnipotence had favored me with some unknowable talent to achieve the things I wanted.
★ I do not think that tragedy is our natural fate and I do not live in chronic dread of disaster. I do not expect disaster until I have specific reason to expect it—and when I encounter it, I am free to fight it. It is not happiness, but suffering that I consider unnatural. It is not success, but calamity that I regard as the abnormal exception in human life.
★ Every form of happiness is one, every desire is driven by the same motor—by our love for a single value, for the highest potentiality of our own existence—and every achievement is an expression of it. No one’s happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy.
★ There is no meaning in motors or factories or trains, that their only meaning is in man’s enjoyment of his life, which they served—and that my swelling admiration at the sight of an achievement was for the man from whom it came, for the power and the radiant vision within him which had seen the earth as a place of enjoyment and had known that the work of achieving one’s happiness was the purpose, the sanction and the meaning of life.
★ Every man builds his world in his own image; he has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice. If he abdicates his power, he abdicates the status of man, and the grinding chaos of the irrational is what he achieves as his sphere of existence—by his own choice. Whoever preserves a single thought uncorrupted by any concession to the will of others, whoever brings into reality a match stick or a patch of garden made in the image of his thought –he, an to that extent, is a man and that extent is the sole measure of his virtue.
★ If you fail, as men have failed in their quest for a vision that should have been possible, yet has remained forever beyond their reach—if, like them, you come to think that one’s highest values are not to be attained and one’s greatest vision is not to be made real don’t damn this earth, as they did, don’t damn existence.
★ What is Morality?
★ Judgment to distinguish right and wrong, vision to see the truth, courage to act upon it, dedication to that which is good, integrity to stand by the good at any price.
★ Joy is the goal of existence, and joy is not to be stumbled upon, but to be achieved, and the act of treason is to let its vision drown in the swamp of the moment’s torture.
★ Yet these had been her stars—she thought, looking down at the lights of a town, like a handful of gold coins flung upon the prairie, the brightly violent lights fed by an electric current, these had been her goal, her beacon, the aspiration drawing her upon her upward course. That which others claimed to feel at the sight of the stars—stars safely distant by millions of years and thus imposing no obligation to act, but serving as the tinsel of futility—she had felt at the sight of electric bulbs lighting the streets of a town. It was this earth below that had been the height she wanted to reach.
In popular culture
★ In the ''Futurama'' episode "I Second That Emotion", the 'library' in the mutants' village is a lone bookshelf stocking literary items flushed down toilets from above. When Bender takes a look on it, he finds ''Atlas Shrugged'' and says "Nothing but crumpled porno and Ayn Rand."
★ In the ''South Park'' episode "Chicken Lover", Officer Barbrady reads ''Atlas Shrugged'' after overcoming his illiteracy. He later states to the town that he "read every last word of this piece of garbage" and because he did so "will never read anything ever again".
★ "WhoIsJohnGalt" is a cheat code in Blizzard Entertainment's ''Warcraft III''. The cheat speeds up research of new technologies.
★ In the Marvel comic book ''X-Factor'', the mysterious, precognitive teenage character Layla Miller is seen reading ''Atlas Shrugged'', which makes the other characters slightly uneasy.
★ In an episode of ''Beverly Hills 90210'', Kelly Taylor can be seen reading a hard-cover version of ''Atlas Shrugged'', with the camera resting on the book for a lengthy period of time before moving off.
★ In ''Undeclared'' episode "Addicts", several of the main characters write a report on the novel. One of them declares it "not bad".
★ Fashion designer and visual artist Sean D'Anconia often slips in hidden references to ''Atlas Shrugged'' in his designs and avante-guard advertisements, appearing regularly in ''Flaunt'' and ''YRB Magazine''.[22]
★ The story "The Rogue" by Science Fiction writer Poul Anderson seems to transfer many of the themes of ''Atlas Shrugged'' to a futuristic setting. In the story (later collected in Anderson's ''Tales of the Flying Mountains'') the thriving and fast-expanding American mining colonies in the Asteroid Belt are a haven of capitalist enterprise, reminiscent of Colorado in Rand's book. People like the protagonist, mining tycoon Michael Blades (who has many resemblances to the industrialists in ''Atlas Shrugged'') can and do get personally wealthy - which is virtually impossible in the earthbound USA where the Social Justice Party holds power in Washington. A space warship arrives from Earth, with its secret mission to arrange an "accident" that will put Blades out of business. The resulting confrontation touches off a rebellion which eventually leads the asteroid colonies to start a war of independence and set up their own republic. It is unknown, however, whether Anderson was influenced directly by Rand's book, or developed similar themes independently.
★ Another well-known Science Fiction writer, Robert A. Heinlein, pays Rand's book an explicit tribute in his ''The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress'' - like the above Anderson book, dealing with a rebellion of space colonists (on the Moon in this case). In one passage of the book the rebels describe their leader, the sentient computer "Mike", as "Our John Galt".
★ In the Dean Koontz novel ''Mr. Murder'', two characters take on assumed names John and Ann Gault in order to hide from an evil secret government agency.
★ In the newspaper cartoon ''Zits'', Jeremy's friend Pierce declares ''Atlas Shrugged'' to be his favorite novel because it is thick enough to use as a pillow in the school library.
★ In an episode of ''The Simpsons'' called A Streetcar Named Marge, Maggie attends the Ayn Rand School for Tots. A poster on the wall reads "A is A," the title of Part Three of ''Atlas Shrugged.''
★ The video game ''BioShock'' is heavily influenced by the works of Ayn Rand and ''Atlas Shrugged'' in particular. The underwater society portrayed in the game is governed by Randian ideals. This society was created by a character named Andrew Ryan, whose name is a deliberate reference to Rand. Another one of the characters in the game called Atlas, who maintains contact with the player throughout the game via radio.
★ In the second episode of ''One Tree Hill'', Lucas Scott is given a copy of ''Atlas Shrugged'' by fellow teammate Jake Jagielski. Lucas is struggling with whether to continue playing for his high school basketball team, the Ravens, after having a horrible first game and losing his ability to shoot. His estranged father Dan has convinced Nathan, Dan's other son and Lucas' half brother, to force Lucas off the team so that college scouts can be focused exclusively on Nathan. Jake tells Lucas, "You're gonna be alright. Just don't let them take it from you." Confused, Lucas replies that he doesn't know what that means. Jake motions to the book and says, "You will."
★ In a Perry Mason TV movie from the 1990s, ''The Case of the Reckless Romeo'', a TV talk show host writes a tell-all bestseller revealing the details of several affairs. He is killed by a very jealous Miss Rand. There is another witness named Miss Rearden.
★ The book ''Sewer, Gas and Electric'' by Matt Ruff is a science fiction book largely critical of Ayn Rand and many specific concepts in ''Atlas Shrugged''. It also includes a small device that contains an electronic ghost of Ayn Rand. She comments on actions in the story and has many of her ideas refuted by the characters in the novel.
★ On the back cover of the book '', Ayn Rand is parodied in this quote of praise: "This is similar to my works in that anyone who reads it is sure to be an asshole for at least a month afterward."
★ The “brain drain” in Frank Miller’s ''Martha Washington Goes to War'' was acknowledged by Miller in the letter column as being a reference to ''Atlas Shrugged''.
★ Episode of "Mad Men" on AMC. The show is set in the 1960's world of traveling salesmen and "ad men". The head of the ad agency where the show is set tells his protege, Don Draper, that he is motivated by "rational self interest" and the two are alike in that regard. The boss points to the book "Atlas Shrugged" on his credenza and recommends it to Draper, then gives him a huge bonus, which leaves Draper, and possibly the viewer, somewhat puzzled.
See also
★ James Clavell
★ Laissez-faire capitalism
★ Dystopia
★ Transcontinental railroad
References
1. Rand, Ayn. ''Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal.'' (1986) Signet. ISBN 0451147952 p.150
2. See http://www.noblesoul.com/orc/books/rand/atlas/, retrieved August 9, 2006, for a list of reviews and bibliographical information.
3. Thomas Reed Whissen, ''Classic Cult Fiction: A Companion to Popular Cult Literature'', Greenwood Press, Westport, CT, 1992.
4. Chambers, Whittaker. "Big Sister Is Watching You." ''National Review''. December 28, 1957.
5. Tracinski, Robert W. "A Half-Century-Old Attack on Ayn Rand Reminds Us of the Dark Side of Conservatism". ''Capitalism Magazine''. January 6, 2005.
6. Bemis, Alec Hanley. "Mean Snacks and Monkey Shit: Talking bananas with George Saunders". ''LA Weekly''. May 10, 2006.
7. Huffington, Arianna. "The Enron bonus plan". ''Salon.com''. April 20, 2002.
8. Branden, Nathaniel. "The Benefits and Hazards of the Philosophy of Ayn Rand: A Personal Statement". 1984.
9. "Cato Events: Hundreds Gather to Celebrate Atlas Shrugged". ''Cato Policy Report''. November/December 1997.
10. Bidinotto, Robert James. "Celebrity 'Rand Fans' – Clarence Thomas". Retrieved May 26, 2006.
11. Larry Elder Recommended Books, Larry Elder.com, Retrieved June 13, 2007
12. Celebrity Rand Fans, ''The New Individualist'', Retrieved June 13, 2007
13. Thinkers of Freedom and IJ, Institute for Justice, Retrieved June 13, 2007
14. Subject of article: Headlam, Bruce. "Forget Joyce; Bring on Ayn Rand." ''The New York Times'' July 30, 1998, G4 (Late Edition, East Coast).
15. Subject of article: Yardley, Jonathan. "The Voice of the People Speaks. Too Bad It Doesn't Have Much to Say." ''The Washington Post'' August 10, 1998, D2 (Final Edition). Retrieved from ProQuest Historical Newspapers.
16. "100 Best Novels". ''RandomHouse.com''. Retrieved June 20, 2006.
17. Jenkins, Ray. "Ayn Rand after a century: Who was she – and why?" ''Baltimore Sun'' February 16, 2003. Retrieved from http://www.rickross.com/reference/general/general531.html.
18. C-SPAN American Writers: Ayn Rand
19. McClintock, Pamela. "Jolie shoulders 'Atlas' : Thesp slated for Rand adaptation". ''Variety''. September 21, 2006
20. McClintock, Pamela. "Lionsgate shrugging: 'Atlas' pic mapped". ''Variety''. April 26, 2006
21. Atlas Shrugged at IMDb.
22. Flaunt Magazine Ad
Further reading
Publications
★ ''Atlas Shrugged'', Ayn Rand; Signet; (September 1996) ISBN 0-451-19114-5
★ ''Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes)'', Andrew Bernstein; CliffsNotes; (June 5, 2000) ISBN 0-7645-8556-8
★ ''The World of Atlas Shrugged'', Robert Bidinotto/The Objectivist Center; HighBridge Company; (April 19, 2001) ISBN 1-56511-471-X
★ ''Atlas Shrugged: Manifesto of the Mind (Twayne's Masterwork Studies, No. 174)'' Mimi Reisel Gladstein; Twayne Pub; (June 2000) ISBN 0-8057-1638-6
★ ''The Moral Revolution in Atlas Shrugged'', Nathaniel Branden; The Objectivist Center; (July 1999) ISBN 1-57724-033-2
★ ''Odysseus, Jesus, and Dagny'', Susan McCloskey; The Objectivist Center; (August 1, 1998) ISBN 1-57724-025-1
Foreign language translations
★ Dutch: ''Atlas in Staking'', published by the "De Boekenmaker", www.boekenmaker.nl, tel: +31-75-61471772 (Krommenie, 2006).
★ French: ''La révolte d'Atlas'', 2 vol. (Paris 1958 et 1959, Editions Jeheber)
★ German: ''Wer ist John Galt?'' (Hamburg, Germany: GEWIS Verlag), ISBN 3-932564-03-0.
★ Italian: ''La rivolta di Atlante'', 2 vol. (Milano, Garzanti, 1958), Out of print. Translator: Laura Grimaldi
★ Japanese: ''肩をすくめるアトラス'' (ビジネス社), ISBN 4-8284-1149-6. Translator: 脇坂 あゆみ.
★ Norwegian: ''De som beveger verden''. (Kagge Forlag, 2000), ISBN 82-489-0083-5 (hardcover), ISBN 82-489-0169-6 (paperback). Translator: John Erik Bøe Lindgren.
★ Polish: ''Atlas Zbuntowany'' (Zysk i S-ka, 2004), ISBN 83-7150-969-3 (hardcover). Translator: Iwona Michałowska.
★ Portuguese: ''Quem é John Galt?'' (Editora Expressão e Cultura), ISBN 85-208-0248-6 (paperback). Translator: Paulo Henriques Britto.
★ Russian: ''Атлант расправил плечи'' (Издательство Альпина Бизнес Букс, 2007 г.), ISBN 978-5-9614-0603-0. Translator: Ю.Соколов, В.Вебер, Д.Вознякевич.
★ Spanish: ''La rebelión de Atlas.'' (Editorial Grito Sagrado), ISBN 987-20951-0-8 (hardcover), ISBN 987-20951-1-6 (paperback).
★ Swedish: ''Och världen skälvde.'' (Timbro Förlag, 2005), ISBN 91-7566-556-5. Translator: Maud Freccero.
★ Turkish: ''Atlas Vazgeçti.'' (Plato Yayınları, 2003), ISBN 975-96772-6-1. Translator: Belkıs Çorapçı.
External links
★ Website dedicated to Ayn Rand's novels
★ Timeline of major events in the novel
★ Cast of characters in the novel
★ Excerpt from ''Atlas Shrugged'' at the ARI
Reviews
★ A negative review from the December 28, 1957 issue of ''National Review'' by Whittaker Chambers.
★ A critique of the Chambers review, claiming that Chambers did not actually read the novel
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