Sunday, September 1, 2013

Philip Kaifer Reaction #3

It seems clear now that John Galt should not be regarded as someone or something bad. To Dagny, John Galt represents the benefits of individuality and the prosperity it brings; the John Galt line is the vindication for Dagny’s self-interest and drive for wealth. By creating her own company and leaving Taggart Transcontinental, Dagny is making herself more unique; she does not need the support of public opinion or the criticism of it either. To Dagny, the only one who needs to be correct is herself, and by trusting herself, she is able to succeed in creating the first railroad made entirely of Rearden metal. 
The difference between Dagny and her brother is that she is completely self-sufficient, she is perfectly capable and willing to make her own decisions and she only needs her motivation to succeed. James Taggart, on the other hand, is short-sighted and paralyzed by the people, he is unable to make choices for Taggart Transcontinental unless he believes he has the support of everyone involved. To Rand, this represents the superiority of the individual over the group. This shows that individuality is an important quality to Ayn Rand and that she values the fact that people are not all the same.

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