Two Types of People: Leaders and Bottom Feeders

In the first third of the novel, Rand demonstrates her view of society and the difference between those who succeed and those who do not. It is clear to this point that Rand idolizes people like Dagny, Hank, and Wyatt because they have been successful in life through their own hard work without relying on anyone or anything to accomplish their goals. Conversely, Rand criticizes people like James Taggart for their cowardice and weakness in the sense that they care more about the opinion of other than accomplishing their goals. Furthermore she criticizes him because he relies on Dagny to keep the railroad moving and he takes credit for her success. 

That part is clear from very early in the first part of the novel, however, later in the first third, the reader is exposed to a type of person that Rand characterizes as even more despicable than James Taggart. People like Lee Hunsacker and the rest of the owners/managers of the Twentieth Century Motor Company. Rand portrays these people of the bottom feeders of society. She does a good job of making the reader agree with her view of these people. Hunsacker and the rest of them are seen as hypocrites who claim to be advocates of the public wellbeing but at the same time blame everyone but themselves for their failure. These are the type of people who can only spread the blame but can never take responsibility for their actions. Rand shows us that this is the main reason for their failure and she argues that these are the first to be removed from the food chain in a dog eat dog market.