Philip Kaifer Reaction #5

With part one drawing to a close, Ayn Rand leaves the story with so many questions to be answered. From the ever-present “Who is John Galt” to more specific mysteries such as where did Halley’s Fifth Concerto come from if Halley himself was in hiding? Even more questions like where did Halley and Mulligan disappear too? I hope that these questions will be answered in parts two and three. I especially hope to meet the actual John Galt and see what kind of person he is. Whether he is actually pro-socialist and therefore evil or rather anti-socialist and a hero of Ayn Rand. In concluding the first Part of Atlas Shrugged, Rand also developed the major characters in the novel.

Dagny definitely seems a lot more human now than she did at the beginning of the novel. Rand has made a point of demonstrating both her positive and negative attributes and qualities as well as portraying her struggles in life and business. Dagny, while and excellent business woman, is facing an incredibly powerful force that is trying to destroy her, the government. Dagny’s struggle has been an unending series of laws passed which she can only try to avoid and work around. She also has her personal life to keep hidden from anybody who would use it against her, such as her brother. Hank, her partner in this affair, is not only having to hide it from everyone, he also is struggling with his morals as to whether or not he should break off this relationship with Dagny, He too faces the entire force of the government’s socialist agenda trying to force him into submission. He has no way to even work around the laws anymore, he has to resort to blackmail and shady deals in order to keep his company thriving.

By ending the part at this point, Rand has developed a very intriguing list of questions which she will have to answer later in the novel, I look forward to seeing how Atlas shrugged concludes.