The characters introduced in the beginning of the novel each carry a unique way of looking at the world. Eddie Willers and Hank Rearden each have a different way of not only looking at the world, but looking at work and how to work.
Eddie Willers is characterized as being an individual who does things out of what is rationally correct. This is explicitly described on the bottom of page 13, when Eddie answered the question of what he'd want to do in life, he simply replied "Whatever is right." This belief is backed up again when he enters James Taggart's office. Eddie and James' conversation begins with the railroad accident that happened at Rio Norte. Eddie suggests that the railroad is done for and that it needs to be repaired and not abandoned. James replies quickly and impulsively by telling Eddie that its on the way to being repaired. Although completely out of his authority, Eddie continues to insist that something be done immediately. Now, the reader can infer that Eddie is obviously not going through all of this trouble to make himself look better or to impress James. He is doing this because he knows that the wrecks need to stop, and that persisting the repairs is the right thing to do.
Hank Rearden of Rearden Steel believes in hard work. Working until he physically cannot is how he has functioned over the past 10 years while creating Rearden Metal, a new form of metal said to be stronger than steel, yet cheaper. Rearden approaches work with an unyielding tenacity to get what he wants even if it costs him his relationships among family members, or even his body. Rearden stands proud on the work that he had done for the previous 10 years, even if it had costed him an abundance.
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