James Taggart In Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged

The renowned inventor Thomas Edison had once said that “five percent of the world think; ten percent think they think; and another eighty-five percent would rather die than think.” There is no doubt that James Taggart, a character in Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, would belong in the category of the eighty-five percent. His initial words are “don’t bother me, don’t bother me, don’t bother me.” These significant words hint at James’s unwillingness to accept reality, his disapproval of people’s success, and his determination to destroy others. His initial words show that he is the only one to blame for his downfall.
James’s initial words symbolize his provincial perspective and his inability to grasp reality. He is convinced, like many others, that

thinking is not a function that is vital to life. He simply leaves others, especially Dagny to think of solutions to problems he creates. He hides behind her like a child when he faces troubles. Although he depends on Dagny, he dislikes her because she is inquisitive and intelligent. James does not contemplate whether his ideas are correct, and when his own true nature is revealed to him, he rejects reality even though the price is death. He becomes incorrigible because he is also a parasite. Like most of the people in the novel, James believes that he is entitled to numerous things. He even tells Dagny that it is her responsibility as his sister to take care of him. Hiding behind the idea that he is a philanthropist who values the interest of the public, James degrades people who seek to make a profit righteously through their work. He asserts that it should be the good of the public that they should aim for, not monetary gain. However, he reveals his true nature when he says“ let’s make sure that we leave them no chance to survive” (539). He says this after listening about the laws that would be enacted under Directive 10-289 which was created “ to give security to the people”(539). This shows that it was not public good that made him support the laws, but rather the hatred for the people who were more competent than him. James’s hypocritical demeanor is further revealed when he destroys a valuable vase after his argument with Cheryl, and he feels “the satisfaction of thinking that there are millions of desperate families, any one of whom could have lived for a year on the price of that vase”(893). He has a draconian mentality that he shoves behind his act of working for the good of the people.
James’s words portray his refusal to acknowledge and appreciate other people’s success. When Francisco declares that he wants to increase the rate of production of d’Anconia Cooper by a hundred percent, James mocks him in a way that revealed that “he wanted to let nothing remain great”(96). His reluctance for appreciating others is fueled by his low self-esteem. James constantly complains about Rearden’s and Dagny’s positive perception of themselves; he denies them the right to feel proud of their great accomplishments. He does this by taking credit for Dagny’s decisions and hard work and then posing as a savior in front of the board members. When Cheryl praises Rearden, James undermines Rearden’s achievements by arguing that he “didn’t invent smelting and chemistry and air compression”(262) . James’s reaction toward their brilliance seems natural given that the country seems to value mediocrity above extraordinary. This shown through Rand’s description of the men in power; these men did not have any exceptional talents, but they were given positions of high power merely because of their connections.
James destroys people who bother him.

James and his friends terminate Dan Conway’s Phoenix –Durango Railroad because it becomes a competition to Taggart Transcontinental. The Phoenix-Durango was respected because of its scrupulous service; James destroys it for his own profit not for public good as he claims. The wily James marries Cheryl, a girl entranced by him, to destroy her. He married her seeing the flame of hope and passion she has for life and he becomes the storm that finally smothers her hopeful spirit and finally her life. He doesn’t show anger or disapproval towards Cheryl when she makes mistakes in public, not because he is forgiving but because he likes to think that she is worthless and make her believe it too. Therefore, when she gains confidence he is angered. He is proud of his part in destroying what others have worked hard for. He is enthusiastic when he hears the idea that Francisco’s mines were to be nationalized. He believes that this would greatly destroy Francisco, but it was he who was the most shocked after the nationalization of Francisco’s mines. The furtive James also tries to harm John. He encourages Dr. Ferris, “an incompetent little professor with the appearance of a gigolo and the soul of a thug” to elevate the intensity of John’s punishment. James wants to destroy John because John’s complete awareness of reality seems like a threat to

him
In conclusion, James Taggart’s initial words summarize his personality. He is a man with a low self-esteem who cannot accept reality for what it really is. James’s resistance to the reality is the cause of his disapproval of others and his failure as a person.