Hank Rearden's secretary, Miss Ives (was that her name?), and many others were allowed into the Gulch. It was implied at the end when Rearden took off after they attacked his mills.

When I read "Atlas," I thought that Rand was trying to show us that the most vulnerable people were the most hurt by these "helpful" and "socially progressive" policies. Eddie Willers was part of that: someone who, in a better world, would have been Dagny's right-hand man, compensated well for his efforts, and as happy as he let himself be. In the moocher/looter world, he suffered.

Exactly. Well said KH.
Cheers

Not where he wanted to be but as far as he was capable of going. His fate (by implication as he was left stranded with a broken down train he couldn't do anything about) illustrates what happens to good people with limited or average ability when the best are no longer there to sustain the society. (Other characters were where they chose to be by default despite their ability to be better.)

The theme of Atlas Shrugged was the role of the mind in human existence, and the fate of Eddie Willers, one of the admirable characters in the book, illustrates what everyone had depended on when the best minds are squelched or withdraw from the punishment -- no matter how morally good the victims are.

Eddie Willers' fate in the plot illustrates one aspect of the theme, but in practice when ruthless tyrants take over anyone is vulnerable and no amount of dramatic 'cavalry to the rescue' fiction writing can save us. Those of the most ability have better means for contending with it, but when brute force takes over the mind is sacrificed even to dumb bureaucrats. In the Soviet Union some of the brightest scientists and engineers who thought they had a safer, less vulnerable position because of their work, were slaughtered precisely because they were relied on for superior theories and designs that could not possibly meet the irrational demands of their thug rulers.

good points.

interesting...

You can guess all you want and it only underscored the chasm between the artist and the viewer. In point of fact, Ayn Rand explained this herself. Willers' fate is purposely left undetermined as being symbolic of the "average person" i.e., you, whose fate is not that of the evil looters or of the prime movers. That said, it also remains that Galt's Gulch included a truck driver who wanted to rise above his station. That does, in fact, underscore Willers' fate as undetermined. He was where he wanted to be in life. Where are you?

Eddie was the version of Atlas who stayed until he collapsed. I believe he represents what would have happened to Dagny if she did not shrug. The contrast at the end was needed to drive home the point of the entire book.

for us, it is a perfect opportunity to wake the Eddie's up out there. get them to the movie this weekend...many of them get it, they don't choose correctly. we all find ourselves chained to irrational loyalties...and other irrational junk

and you received the most points on the post I recommended

I forgot that he did actually turn down the chance to leave with Dagney. A misplaced sense of loyalty to a dead railroad. It was his demise.

no. there were many allowed into the Gulch who were not leaders. I think the best way to answer the question is to direct you to the scene in the book where Eddie stays with the train. Go re-read it. Eddie chose loyalty to the company over himself. I think it's a very poignant part of the story, perfectly demonstrating the return to the primitive. we have debated this in the gulch. I think you will find comments from this post helpful. http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts/ad...

My opinion only, but I think he didn't see the value in himself. He only saw Dagny and the railroad.