Objectivism In Atlas Shrugged By Ayn Rand

Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand is a book that tackles human motive, power, and objectivism. It also challenges female stereotypes as well as a person’s purpose and drive in life. Some are driven by confidence and a need to be better, while others strive for fame and money. In the end there is a clean division drawn between these two types of people. Many themes are explored in this literary work, but the main ones that stick out are the powerful character of Dagny, the purposeful setting, and the exploration of objectivism.

The novel’s main character is Dagny Taggart, a woman who runs her family's railroad behind the scenes while her brother takes all of the credit. Dagny is an intelligent woman with talent, beauty, and determination. She is very independent and is willing to trust her judgement over the common public opinion. Dagny states, “You don't

have to see through the eyes of others, hold on to yours, stand on your own judgment, you know that what is, is–say it aloud, like the holiest of prayers, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise¨ (890).

She is calm and rational, but has an extreme passion for her work above all else. Dagny is an enormously successful woman in a man’s world, and her defining characteristic is her dominating self-confidence. Dagny also states, “...the sight of an achievement was the greatest gift a human being could offer to others¨ (237). She has an amazing business sense and knows the right moves to make and doesn’t care who doubts or disagrees with her. She doesn’t hesitate to take risks, and because of this she thrives under pressure. When most back down and accept defeat, that is when she kicks it into high gear to accomplish

her goal. According to Dagny, “It was the greatest sensation of existence: not to trust, but to know” (240). However, her self-confidence can also be perceived as her biggest flaw, but she is willing to own her mistakes. She believes, no matter the obstacle, she can overcome everything, and inevitably this is her downfall. Dagny tries to do everything on her own and believes in some instances she can only trust herself. Sometimes this is a wise logic, but everyone needs support and assistance from somebody else eventually.
The setting in Atlas Shrugged is almost as much of a character as Dagny. It makes the story of a strong woman running a railroad even more powerful than it would be in today's time. The year is never actually said, but it is assumed to take place sometime in the 1930’s. This adds a lot of content to the plot line of a woman running a railroad. In that time women rarely had jobs outside the home and the fact that Dagny runs her family’s railroad company with little or no help from her brother is truly incredible. Even more phenomenal, is that Dagny continues pushing through the stereotype of women’s roles in society and dominates a man’s world. She didn’t let anything discourage her even though the social norm said she was crazy and out of place. She took every day as a challenge and she didn’t ever feel sorry for herself because of the way she treated as a woman. She just did her job to the standard she set for herself even if no one believed her and everyone thought she was way out of her league. Another way the plot was a crucial part of the novel was that it is centered around locomotive travel and its importance. The railroad problem would not have been an issue if it’d been set in a modern timeline, but since it is not it become extremely relevant. The problems that took place in the iron, coal, and other industries can also be credited to the time as well as the economic struggles in the country.
Finally, objectivism played a huge role in this book and the world during the time it was written, and Ayn Rand is credited for being a key player in starting the objectivist movement. However, objectivism is never officially addressed in the novel, but it is looked at as more or less of an “Objectivism Manifesto” of sorts. Many of the characters hold the opinions that people should live for themselves and no one else. They should use the powers of reason to work hard and make a nice life for themselves. For example, Dagny is a hard working businesswoman who doesn’t tolerate slackers and has an opinion on everything. And, even though it is never stated out right, characters go on rants per say about objectivist views in general. It is concerned with morality and what is right for the individual, and many of the perceived “good guys” in the novel hold these standards. Also, the characters that don’t agree with this ideology are called “looters” in the book for their opinions on sacrifice and charity. They are described as people who just make money to make it and don’t work hard for a living. The main characters, or the objectivists, are often viewed as selfish by others because of the overriding concern for the preservation of their own well being.
Each person must eventually draw their own conclusions on the heavily debated topics discussed in the book. There are many philosophical ideals described in the novel, and people must decide which side of the argument they will join. It is also a thinking book that will stir up questions in most people, but will also provide entertainment for others. Dagny is a powerful character that adds a lot of substance to the book and provides a refreshing perspective on the changing world at this time. In the end, however, it comes down to individual opinions to draw conclusions on this novel.