Emotional Investment in Peeople Who Aren't Real

            As the novel has progressed, Raynd has managed to get me emotionally invested in these characters that are obviously not real people. My biggest reason for caring so much about them is the realistic nature of their lives. All of what happens to these characters are things that happen in real life. Thus far, the controversy that surrounds Hank and Dagny’s relationship has made it my favorite part of the novel.

            Despite the fact that Hank sleeping with Dagny means Hank is being unfaithful, I cannot help but want them to be together. Ranyd’s description of them allows me to believe that Hank is happy with Dagny, which he is not with Lillian. Raynd displays quite simply how the relationship between the two has evolved. Her simple mentioning of the fact that Dagny knows Hank is opening her door with his own key at night lets you know that she has become to trust him a great deal. Their time together seems to be pleasurable for the both of them through the reader’s eyes. However, Raynd does a nice job of putting their adultery into context by having a man commend Rearden on the trouble he goes through to find someone with “a charming lady that is not [his] wife”. 

            Raynd’s description of the pair is so well executed that I resented Lillian’s “existence”. Nevertheless, in the scene between Hank and Lillian I started to feel bad for her. She tells Hank that what she wants is not material; she wants him. When she tries to embrace him and Hank pushes her away self-consciously I actually began to feel bad for her. The way Raynd describes these situations makes me love these characters at one point (i.e. Hank and Dagny) but then resent them just ten pages later. 
- Talia Akerman