Atlas Shrugged: Written for a Scholarship From Ayn Rand Institute

In a world where the line between justice and injustice becomes blurred, characters who might otherwise be labeled successful business people are labeled greedy. The ability of these characters in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged to produce is taken for granted by characters that do not or are not able to exercise the same abilities. In the end, these abilities or inabilities determine the prosperity of the world. For the statements to follow, consider the contradiction the characters deal with, which also present times when they face futility, fear or despair.

To start, Taggart Transcontinental is facing a loss that could mean an end for the generations old railroad. It is at this time that the State Science Institute engages in a futile act against another company that has the power to help any company that relies on metal namely, Taggart Transcontinental. Furthermore, in a time when women are expected to speak of frivolous things and be attentive only at dinner parties, the business savvy Dagny Taggart is the one who continues to rescue her family owned railroad company. In a move to save the railroad, Dagny becomes the first business person to commit to using the revolutionary, but unpopular, Rearden Metal. To James Taggart using the metal is socially unacceptable. However, public opinion does not matter to Dagny; she knew what she needed to do, James Taggart: "did you say you have ordered the rail from Rearden?" Dagny Taggart: "Yesterday evening. I called him in Cleveland" (19). As time drove on, the popularity of Rearden Metal grew less and less favorable. This was not because it was a bad product or unsafe, but because its creator was unpopular. The more talk there was about the new metal, the more people began to scrutinize the use of it.

In the height of Rearden Metal's unpopularity, the State Science Institute releases a statement about the metal in a futile act that would secure its condemnation. Before going public with the statement the institute approached its creator, Hank Rearden, about the production of the miracle metal. The organization informed Mr. Rearden that they would publish a statement against the use of the metal unless he agreed to either wait to release the product or sell it to the institute. The head of the State Science Institute, Dr. Stadler argues, "you can imagine what the public reaction will be if some private individual comes out with a product that revolutionizes the entire science of metallurgy and proves to be sensationally successful!" (190). The organization recognizes the metal's brilliance, but would not release this information to the public, for fear of losing public funds and adoration. The institute approached Mr. Rearden with condescending threats, "The State Science Institute represents the best brains of the country... Surely you do not want to pit your own judgment against theirs?" (179). Mr. Rearden's refusal to comply would eventually mean Hank Rearden and anyone who used Rearden Metal would be in opposition with the State Science Institute. The institute's statement meant Taggart Transcontinental had to choose between using the metal to complete a railroad line that would save the company or avoid using it to keep its name clear of bad press and therefore face a financial downfall. There was virtually nothing they could do to counteract the statement in question, Eddie Willers [to Dagny Taggart]: "We can't fight it. It can't be answered. We can't demand a retraction. We can't show them our tests or prove anything. They've said nothing. They haven't said a thing that could be refuted and embarrass them professionally. It's the job of a coward. You'd expect it from some con-man or blackmailer. But, Dagny! It's the State Science Institute!" (187).

With the financial threat that the incomplete Rio Norte Line creates for Taggart Transcontinental, the only person able to face the fear of using Rearden Metal was Dagny. She decided to go into business independently to finish building the line using the unpopular metal. If the line proved to be successful, she would turn it back over to Taggart Transcontinental; if not, she would personally take the fall. The decision would satisfy her brother's desire not be associated with Rearden Metal and allow a necessary task to be complete. In an expression of defiance against the swarming propaganda concerning the use of Rearden Metal and in ode to the contradiction the situation created, Dagny would name her new company the John Galt Line, James Taggart: "I don't know [what the phrase 'Who is John Galt?' stands for] ... But the way people use it, they always seem to say it out of-" Dagny Taggart: "Fear? Despair? Futility?" James Taggart: "Yes ... yes, that's what it is." Dagny Taggart: "That's what I want to throw in their faces!" (197). Out of fear, everyone seemed to be against the use of Rearden Metal. Even those who Dagny though were able to completely disassociate themselves from the social meaning of using the metal began to retreat, Mr. Mowen: "Too many people don't like it." Dagny Taggart: "What? Rearden Metal or your making the switches?" Mr. Mowen: "Both, I guess... People don't like it... I don't want any trouble," (183). Facing that fear and challenging a contradiction would be the underlying theme behind naming the new line the John Galt Line.

The next turn of events include the downfall of D'Anconia Copper. With this a reality, the economic position of the whole world seemed to shift with agonizing despair into depression. It is in this despair that Francisco poses a question to Dagny, Francisco D'Anconia: "... why is it that throughout man's history the Nat Taggarts, who make the world, have always won-and always lost it to the men of the Board?" Dagny Taggart: "I ... don't know" (514). The question helped Dagny to better understand why she fought for the John Galt Line and Rearden Metal. Inevitably, and with the creation of the John Galt Line, Dagny would find herself continuing to fight for the prosperity of Taggart Transcontinental as her great ancestor, Nat Taggart fought for the business. There were very few Nat Taggarts left in the country; a person who would fight with everything they had for their right to business ownership. The irony is the very people Nat and Dagny fought were the very people Taggart Transcontinental and the John Galt Line were built for. This contradiction marks a time, as Francisco states, "When you see that tradition is done, not by consent, but by compulsion-when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing... you may know that society is doomed. (413).

Each of these comments uttered by James Taggart, Dagny Taggart, Eddie Willers and Francisco D'Anconia, represent a time when the characters faced contradictions and futility, fear or despair. In those times the characters have an opportunity to take on the weight of the world or to simply shrug it off. In the end shrugging it off is the answer to how the characters should deal with existing contradictions.