Atlas Shrugged, Part 1 Chapter 9: The Sacred and the Profane
Summary: Dagny and Hank converse about their relationship. James Taggart “stoops down” to Cherryl Brooks. Dagny and Hank converse more back in Philadelphia. Mr. Mowen discusses the Equalization of Opportunity Bill and other Big Government ideas with Owen Kellogg. Dagny turns the John Galt Line back into the Rio Norte Line, and then consoles herself with Hank, making plans for the future. They decide to go on a vacation, then decide to explore the 20th Century Motor Company, where they found the model of the motor, the paper plans for which were just over 10 years old. They left to seek the inventor.
Start by reading the first-tier comments, which are all quotes of Ayn Rand (some of my favorites, some just important for other reasons). Comment on your favorite ones, or others' comments. Don't see your favorite quote? Post it in a new comment. Please reserve new comments for Ayn Rand, and your non-Rand quotes for "replies" to the quotes or discussion. (Otherwise Rand's quotes will get crowded out and pushed down into oblivion. You can help avoid this by "voting up" the Rand quotes, or at least the ones you especially like, and voting down first-tier comments that are not quotes of the featured book.)
Atlas Shrugged was written by Ayn Rand in 1957.
My idea for this post is discussed here:
http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...
Start by reading the first-tier comments, which are all quotes of Ayn Rand (some of my favorites, some just important for other reasons). Comment on your favorite ones, or others' comments. Don't see your favorite quote? Post it in a new comment. Please reserve new comments for Ayn Rand, and your non-Rand quotes for "replies" to the quotes or discussion. (Otherwise Rand's quotes will get crowded out and pushed down into oblivion. You can help avoid this by "voting up" the Rand quotes, or at least the ones you especially like, and voting down first-tier comments that are not quotes of the featured book.)
Atlas Shrugged was written by Ayn Rand in 1957.
My idea for this post is discussed here:
http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...
Previous comments... You are currently on page 2.
I was mainly thinking of JT as presented earlier in the book, espousing altruism, and everything being for the "good of society".
Edit: clarity and to correct autocheck!
What was it that Frisco said to Rearden about forgiveness?
I interpreted JT as really, honestly WANTING to do the right thing, just having such a warped view of the world, that his idea of the "right thing" was always contrary to logic.
This in contrast to say, Mouch or the union boss, who didn't give a flip about right and wrong, they just wanted more personal power, no matter who or how many it hurt.
I actually see Cheryl as having the RIGHT ideas, but being too timid in the face of Jim's overpowering, domineering personality. She seems to be a warning to the rest of us to stand up to the illogical "bullies". She didn't, and when the truth finally hit her, it was sadly too much for her to handle.
Some people would say that he is not evil because his education was faulty, so he didn't know any better. Even if it were true, I don't accept that excuse. Not knowing murder is evil does not make it any less evil. But I believe every human being knows morality proper to human beings. It may be suppressed, buried deep down where they won't be confronted with it, but they cannot ultimately plead ignorance. They are without excuse.
Some people say he is not evil because he had good intentions. Same answer. Committing murder with the good intention of bettering society (the greater good) does not make murder any less evil.
Jim may have been confused, misguided, call it what you will. But he was also evil. That is one of the points that this whole story was building up to. Just read Ayn Rand's description of his end:
"He was seeing his face as the face of a killer whom all men should rightfully loathe, who destroyed values for being values, who killed in order not to discover his own irredeemable evil."
Cherryl Brooks on the other hand is real and believable. She has moderate education and morals/ethics. She is not a strong intellect or producer but when faced with stupid remarks she can ask good questions. Her level of intellect, or maybe insufficient moral strength, leads to her death as she is unable to put the right questions to herself.
The character of Cheryl Brooks is crucial to the theme of the book. Here is a person who could be happy and productive if only she had been 1. luckier in relationships, or, 2. if she had the skill to think thru her situation and make the right decisions in her own interests.
1. plays a part in life, but, 2. as it is said, you can make your own luck.
The reader cannot avoid liking Cheryl despite her weaknesses which proved fatal.
Jim, I see as ... misguided? Probably a better word for it, but he was just a product of his education, which is even scarier in its own way. The bad thing about JT is that he was misguided AND in a position of power (as CEO of the railroad). There are a lot of people out there who got the same type of education, and took it to heart with no real thought or skepticism. Some in power, but many many more who keep them in power (or allow them to stay in power).
…. “What, Mr. Taggart? What is it you want?”
“Oh, there you go! The moment you ask, ‘What is it?’ you’re back in the crude, material world where everything’s got to be tagged and measured. I’m speaking of things that can’t be named in materialistic words… the higher realms of the spirit, which man can never reach… What’s any human achievement, anyway? The earth is only an atom whirling in the universe – of what importance is that bridge to the solar system?”
“You don’t mean it, Mr. Taggart.”
“I mean, we’re only human beings – and what’s a human being? A weak, ugly, sinful creature, born that way, rotten in his bones – so humility is the one virtue he ought to practice… Pride is the worst of all sins, no matter what he’s done.”
“But if a man knows that what he’s done is good?”
“Then he ought to apologize for it.”
“To whom?”
“To those who haven’t done it.”
“I…I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. It takes years and years of study in the higher reaches of the intellect.”
She said, puzzled, “But the iron ore and all those other things were there all the time. Why didn’t anybody else make that Metal, but Mr. Rearden did?”
“He didn’t do it for any noble purpose, he did it just for his own profit. He’s never done anything for any other reason.”