Atlas Shrugged

course of history, the individual has always been the driving force of progress and innovation in any society. As a result, the importance individual became the primary focus of the prominent 20th century author Ayn Rand. Best known for her novel Atlas Shrugged, Rand rose into relevance in the middle of the 20th century as an outspoken critic of communism and the founder of the philosophy of objectivism. Being born during a tumultuous time in Russian history, Rand’s early life experiences are…

Please Fix the Rio Norte (Central Themes in Chapter One: The Theme, of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged) The world is viewed by many to be a great resource for wealth, happiness, and survival. Pessimistic and optimistic lenses blur the subjective understanding of how the physical planet and humans interact. All will say sacrifices must be made to reach progress, but the priority of what can and what cannot be sacrificed is a deep and polar divide between many groups of people. Ayn Rand is known for…

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” This quote was written by George Orwell in his book Animal Farm, one of Orwell’s most famous novels. Throughout history the subject of a distant dystopia has always been explored in many works of literature. The possibility of humanity falling into a bleak and totalitarian society has always fascinated readers. These stories and themes can come to define an author and their legacy as a writer. There is no greater example of…

The difference between Roark’s path to success and Keating’s path to failure is their independence. Well, In Keating’s case his dependence. In Rand’s eyes, Keating is a completely dependent person. Keating lives not for himself, but for other people in his life. The most notable of which being his mother. Roark, however, is completely independent from others. Roark lives for himself and only himself. He does not let anyone get in the way of what he wants and never settles for less. This is why…

the sky? Who is John Galt?" (45) When Paul Larkin gives the above answer to Rearden's genuine inquiry, "What's amiss with the world?" (45), he infers that there's no reason for attempting to answer either question. Without a doubt, all through Atlas Shrugged, when individuals ask, "Who is John Galt?" the last thing they expect is an answer. The enigmatic expression is a method for hurling one's hands what's more, arguing lack of awareness about inquiries and issues one is either incapable or…

To put it simply, I have always been good at school. The benefits of school can be seen in how I just used school as a verb. Performing well in school has always come naturally to me, about as naturally as me crying every time the shark eats the seal in Planet Earth. However, I have learned over my years in education, that my so called “natural ability” to learn is not so natural, and that I have, in actuality, worked hard to be the bright student I am today. I have completed hundreds of…

As Glenn Woiceshyn illustrates that “... individuals does not mean looting others to satisfy one’s desire...Individualism, not collectivism or altruism, is the root of benevolence and goodwill among men”; Ayn Rand philosophically declared that these two distinct fundamental ways of living - individualism and collectivism- in her novel ,Fountainhead, as her themes. In Ayn Rand’s words, the theme is “ individualism vs collectivism, not in politics but in men's souls”. The Fountainhead contain…

As Glenn Woiceshyn illustrates that “... individuals does not mean looting others to satisfy one’s desire...Individualism, not collectivism or altruism, is the root of benevolence and goodwill among men.” Ayn Rand philosophically declared these two distinct fundamental ways of living - individualism and collectivism- in her novel, The Fountainhead, as her themes. In Ayn Rand’s words, the theme is “individualism vs collectivism, not in politics but in men's souls”(708). The Fountainhead contains…

A central pillar of Objectivism is the concept of an objective reality characterized by absolutes: What exists exists, and has certain properties, and obeys certain laws. James Taggart, like many of the villains of Atlas Shrugged, refuses to accept these principles. A world of immutable absolutes is a world not subject to his whims, and this frustrates him endlessly. His first words in the novel, “Don’t bother me,” foreshadow his relentless struggle to deny reality. Taggart is speaking, in this…

To future philosophy student, There are four keys of Objectivism that Ayn Rand explained; Reality, Reason, Self-interest, and Capitalism. To understand her philosophy about Objectivism, you must understand them. First, let’s define the theory of Objectivism. Objectivism, according to Ayn Rand, “is the guide to your life, how to achieve things, and how to be happy. It is the fundamental, principle by which you can make your own choices” This theory is contentious due to its support of…