Hernan Prieto Reaction #8

As the novel approaches its conclusion, well relatively, the question of who John Gault is still not answered. Although Rand has given broad, inconclusive stories on John Gault’s real identity, is it is still not clear to the reader. What we do know as readers is that overall the central idea of John Gault, whether he found Atlantis or found the fountain of youth, is that he had or has revolutionary ideas. Some of these ideas most likely collided with the ever rising communist government whose economic polices have crippled the national economy leaving the country in nothing but despair.

            The idea of John Gault leaves the ever-present question of who’s the hero of the novel? Is it the real life John Gault? Whose reputation defies the government, much like what he did with the twentieth century motor company when he lead the company into bankruptcy because he did not agree with it’s socialist reforms? Or is Dagny Taggart the hero of the novel? The hardheaded intelligent and astute woman with a high-ranking position in a sexist world, that has the intelligence to save the world from an economic downfall? Although I would conclude that Dagny is the main character of the novel, I’m not very sure if she is the one to be labeled as the hero.

            The question of Rearden being the hero is not completely discarded in my opinion. He was compared to the Greek god Atlas, who can be a hero since he bears the world on his shoulders. But in Rearden’s trail, it shows a side of him that I believe he has been trying to release for a long time. I labeled it as him releasing himself from the chains of the socialist government, finally saying stop the abuse, stop the manipulation, which made me view him very highly. Rearden overall has the same attitude as Dagny’s but their difference was that Rearden had the chance to say what he stands for in front of the government (during his trial) and to the general public. His revelation gives him potential that the Taggart’s do not have, which is public support to some certain extent.

            Furthermore, as I see that the novel is coming to it’s end, relatively, I cannot believe that Rand still develops characters giving me new perspectives on characters, characters that thought had their attitudes more than described. For example the trail was worth Rearden’s complete reputation. Standing up to the government is a brave thing to do, even though he had nothing to loose since he most likely was going to be sentenced to jail. Dagny in the other hand is also showing a different side of her, she begins to show an attitude that in my opinion is less professional, or to some point less controlled.