John Galt In Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged
Does existence exist? Is “A” always “A”? What would happen if the elites who figuratively support the weight of the world shrug off their responsibilities and allow the world to fall? Who is John Galt? Such are the questions addressed in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, a 1957 philosophical dystopian-fiction novel that the author regards as her masterpiece in the fiction genre. Rand introduces John Galt, the novel’s main character, not as a character, but as a question. The question, “Who is John Galt?” is not only the first words of the novel, but is also the most repeated phrase in the novel, being stated a total of twenty six times. Characters ask the question as an answer to unanswerable questions. Perhaps, the common phrase “ I don’t know” had
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Not only does this develop the character of Eddie Willers as the ever-loyal employee to Dagny Taggart, but also shows the lowly position John Galt takes as a part of his strike against society. Despite being an intellectual genius and capable producer, John Galt has a blue-collar position that roughs up and grease-stains his clothes (Rand 48). Rand also uses his position of twelve years to develop his romantic interest in Dagny Taggart. Over the course of his employment, John Galt asks Eddie Willers personal questions regarding Dagny even including the way she looks when she sleeps. While his interest may be questionable by today’s standard, he displays his unwavering acceptance of facts when he learns that Dagny is Hank Rearden’s mistress. He begins to observe Rearden at a conference, and while feeling a sense of loss at first, he objectively analyzes Rearden’s situation; although Rearden has everything John Galt would have had if he had not gone on strike, Rearden also suffers from an insatiable demand from others as a result. Rand uses John Galt’s job position and romantic interest to develop him as not only a man of objectivity and truth, but also a man of emotion and
Not only does this develop the character of Eddie Willers as the ever-loyal employee to Dagny Taggart, but also shows the lowly position John Galt takes as a part of his strike against society. Despite being an intellectual genius and capable producer, John Galt has a blue-collar position that roughs up and grease-stains his clothes (Rand 48). Rand also uses his position of twelve years to develop his romantic interest in Dagny Taggart. Over the course of his employment, John Galt asks Eddie Willers personal questions regarding Dagny even including the way she looks when she sleeps. While his interest may be questionable by today’s standard, he displays his unwavering acceptance of facts when he learns that Dagny is Hank Rearden’s mistress. He begins to observe Rearden at a conference, and while feeling a sense of loss at first, he objectively analyzes Rearden’s situation; although Rearden has everything John Galt would have had if he had not gone on strike, Rearden also suffers from an insatiable demand from others as a result. Rand uses John Galt’s job position and romantic interest to develop him as not only a man of objectivity and truth, but also a man of emotion and