Sunday, September 22, 2013

Luis Santos Reaction #6


Due to the hectic week I was not able to read much of Atlas Shrugged. But the couple of chapters I read raised and answered some of my many questions. After the wedding reception I was surprised to know that Rearden bluntly told his wife he is having an affair. And then after that, he told her she can do nothing about it and he will not stop seeing his mistress. How are they able to stay married after all of this? I do not understand why they cannot divorce each other. It will make things much easier if Hank just married Dagny. Dagny was not as important in these past chapters and I have a feeling her importance will just keep on diminishing as the novel goes on. My theory was proven somewhat true when the title of the novel was finally explained. I had always wondered what “Atlas Shrugged” meant and Francisco explains it to me as he talks with Hank. Atlas was a Greek mythological character that much resembles Hank. After fighting with Zeus, Atlas is forced to carry the world on his back. Like Atlas, Hank is suffering. So, Francisco suggests, he should shrug the world off his back- hence, Atlas Shrugged. It was interesting for me to see the meaning behind the title. It leads me think, however, that the true protagonist of the book is actually Hank, and not any of the Taggarts, or Francisco.  

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