When I read the first page of “Atlas Shrugged,” I never imagined it would end the way it did. From small yet influential fights among industrialists, all the way to a national breakdown in the economy and in society, Ayn Rand gradually took the readers on a journey of the demise of the United States of America.
From beginning to end, my favorite, most interesting and courageous character was Dagny; and I bet everyone would agree with me about that. I admired her power and values from the start. I found it amazing that she managed to carry her principles with her throughout any situation; staying true to the person she was and not changing for anyone. Her strongest act of love and dedication to the people is demonstrated when she decides to go back to the outer world and fight for humanity. Though she is a realistic, intelligent businesswoman, she always has hope for humanity and believes that there is a way to get out of the mess the nation is in. Another moment that made me love Dagny even more was when she was happy that Hank disappeared. The fact that his absence made her happy showed that she wanted to be the only victim of all of the bad things happening in the world, and wanted no one else to have to fight against it. She literally puts the world on her back.
A huge theme emphasized throughout the entire novel (more towards the last half) is that of morality. When Dagny finds herself in the hidden valley, all we ever hear is how wrong everyone in the outer world is. Every industrialist in the secret location stresses the importance of moral values, and how the lack of these is what has caused all of the damage in the world. I respect these industrialists for their views, and appreciate them for taking a stand in what they believe in. The reoccurring theme of morality is one that is engraved in the readers’ minds. Ayn Rand does a great job of influencing the readers to stick to the righteous and correct things to do, and if I did not have this kind of mindset before, I definitely would after I read the book.
John Galt’s 56-page speech leaves the entire nation in awe. Some wonder whether it is real, some don’t know how to react to it. The looters do everything they can to convince themselves that no one fell for it and that they would triumph. Nevertheless, John Galt literally lets out every opinion he has on the crisis the nation is undergoing, and everyone listens attentively. His speech talks about how every man should work for his happiness, and not for anyone else’s. That morals are what will bring the country out of the catastrophe, and that the looters need to step down and let the good reign.
The people are left with no choice but to go along with what the government says; Dagny and the rest of the team are literally fighting against the government and the looters, while simultaneously trying to bring the common people out of their oblivion and wake them up to what is actually going on. But Dagny never gives up. Even when she hits rock bottom she is determined to fight for what she believes in.
The end of the novel was sort of depressing, despite the fact that we are assured that the good industrialists are saved. Regardless, it is implied that they have much more trouble, fighting, and chaos ahead of them in order to rebuild society and the government. Though the entire novel contains an ongoing theme of economical downfall, we are always left with a sense of hope, and Ayn Rand continues to leave us with this feeling at the end despite the terrible times to come.
I feel that this was the perfect time to have read “Atlas Shrugged.” Much of what happens in the book is pertinent to our world today. The economy suffers from the struggle between socialists and capitalists, and many of the events we read about in the novel are similar to some that occurred in our government recently. Though some of the parts of the book seem a bit unrealistic, Ayn Rand’s whole theme of rationality and morality are well conveyed. I liked how the author tied together the love stories, economical crisis, personal lives, and politics in the story to make the novel enjoyable and interesting. It was long as hell, but I am glad to say that I read “Atlas Shrugged”... all of it.
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