Part 3 of the novel has been my favorite section so far.
All of the questions that the plot has developed throughout the first two parts
have been answered, and now the author just left me with anticipation as to
what could happen next. The idea of “Atlantis” was extremely eye-opening for
me. I believe that Atlantis can be directly compared to the Hidden Valley, where all
the superheroes (or great minds) go because the world has taken advantage of
them. Through this comparison, it is easy to think that these superheroes are
being selfish for their own advantage, but rather their selfishness is just an
example of the clarity that makes them so superior to the outside world. In
this utopia, the men and women only depend on each other as much as they depend
on the other. They respect each other more because they are not out to get each other. It is an equal playing field, where no jobs are menial or lousy.
They make clear that everyone has a purpose and there is no such thing as a
lousy job. If American’s had this outlook on their society, our world would
function much better. I found it captivating when Dagny asked Galt for a job as
a cleaning lady for his house. She looked at her pay just as a teenage waitress
would as she received her first paycheck. I think Rand used this instance to
show that it is essential for people to start from the bottom in order to
understand their influence at the top. Rand is also noting that earning money is a feat no matter how much you are getting. The problem with the outside world is just
that- they take these aspects for granted.
When all of the great minds that had disappeared sat
around to eat, I pictured something like Jesus sitting with his disciples
at the last supper. I feel that Galt is a Christ-like figure in that manner. He
wishes to change society through his teachings just like Jesus did. Galt has
a God-like clarity within him, which is why he is such an influential figure.
He is clearly the leader of the pack, in my opinion. It is easy to think that
Galt is a selfish man, but I think he believes that the only way to fix the
world is to let it self-erupt. His “disciples” seem to have a clearer outlook
on life than the average person, which is why it is so easy for them to
function in a society together. 
I agree with Olivia. Part 3 of this novel has also been the most captivating for me. Atlantis, in historical context, was a place that sunk so to never be found. In a way, the place where all the intellectuals live is that same city of Atlantis. It has sunken beneath radar, underneath the mountains it hides in, and only exists when a person is able to see it, which only occurs when they are brought to live there. This city of Atlantis is a place where the inhabitants are able to express themselves knowing that everyone around them accepts them.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I find very interesting is how they mention there are no small jobs. Every job is just as important as the next and this is why the secretive society is able to prosper. This cannot occur in the outside world, like Olivia states, because they take different principles into account. A society will never be able to live like the people of Atlantis, the lost city, because it takes a certain type of person, one who understands the human being, to survive.