Atlas Shrugged: Relation Hank and Francisco have towards my grandfather

Wendell Pfeffer

Reaction: Atlas Shrugged

Atlas Shrugged:

            I’m not going to lie, this book did intimidate me in the beginning because of its size but I have actually grown to like it. When reading Atlas Shrugged I cannot but help notice the relation some of the characters have towards my grandfather. My grandfather has blue eyes, blonde hair and was born in the United States in a lower class family, his father ended up dying when he was five and was forced to move to Mexico with his mother. My grandfather and his mother moved to one of the poorest places in the Mexico, Morelia. Back then Morelia was most famously known for the rebellious group of teens and adults hoping to overthrow the government. My grandfather learned to adapt among the Mexican society despite his characteristics and unfamiliarity with the Mexican language. He never accepted himself as poor, beginning when he was just thirteen he worked day and night selling shoes and newspapers. He developed his talent and raised a company formally known as “Jugos Del Valle” to its ultimate glory. You can say that my grandfathers work habit relates to that of Hank Reardens, Hank Rearden is the epitome of the word “productive.” Hank Reardan has the gift of working with integrity and hard work and never comes to realize when it is time to stop. His own mother even begins to question his work habit: “You don’t care for anything but business.” My grandfather devoted his life towards his work much like Hank; in order to be successful you must always think business wise. Similar too Francisco, even though he was given much of his fortune from his family, he was successful in transforming his business from average to famous. Money too Francisco does not become an issue later on in the story, he ends up wasting millions of dollars on purpose trying to help the “will of the people,” he “provided a livelihood for thousands of men who could not have achieved in a lifetime.” Like Francisco said, he has enough money to last for “three generations,” what is the purpose of making more money if your not going to live to even spend it? Francisco has to give and expect to receive nothing in return in order for him too feel satisfied about himself, many people have to learn to do the same.

            Right now I’m on page 142 and I find this book to be really interesting, it values the morals of life through business and love. I can’t wait to see what unfolds in the next few chapters.