Atlas Shrugged: A Guided Study. Part 1. Chapter 2.

Posted by fivedollargold 12 years, 10 months ago to Books
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I changed the format for this week's review. Feel free to post answers to the following questions of your own free will.

1) Why did Rand choose to make the train passenger an economist?

2) How long did it take Hank to develop Rearden Metal?

3) Why did Rand state that Hank thought of his wife as "an abstraction?"

4) What neon sign did Hank wish he had?

5) Why is Lillian sarcastic towards Hank?

6) How would you characterize Hank's relationship with his mother?

7) How much of the presentation of the bracelet to Lillian scene was put in the film version? (cf., AS I)

8) Why does Paul warn Hank about public relations?

9) Why does Phillip want the contribution to Friends of Global Progress in cash?

10) What is the bracelet, in Lillian's mind, a metaphor for?

Enjoy!!

All Comments

  • Posted by fivedollargold 12 years, 10 months ago
    Great comments, Luck. Yes, "Friends of Global Progress" sounds like a 21st cc Soros-funded group.
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  • Posted by Lucky 12 years, 10 months ago
    Q9- Why Philip wanted cash for Friends of Global Progress?
    He did not want a check as Hank Readon's name would be on it as the name Reardon is bad -he is a factory owner, and self-made is bad bad.
    I like the idea of Philip wanting a cut. However, at that stage if Philip wants money he asks Hank and Hank gives. Both suffer(ed) from suicidal altruism.
    By the way I just love the name 'Friends of Global Progress'.
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  • Posted by Lucky 12 years, 10 months ago
    Q1- why an economist?
    A profession that know nothing about anything, least of all about economics.
    Three men shipwrecked on an island with only a big can of soup.
    The engineer wants to make a clamp and bash the can open with a rock.
    The chemist thinks the soup-can metal will corrode in salt water.
    The economist says "Let us assume a can opener".
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    6) How would you characterize Hank's relationship with his mother? Host/parasite.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    10) What is the bracelet, in Lillian's mind, a metaphor for? A railroad spike.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    3) Why did Rand state that Hank thought of his wife as "an abstraction?" Because marrying her was something he felt like he was obligated to do rather than what he really wanted to do.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    8) Why does Paul warn Hank about public relations? Because he doesn't want the public to think Hank's only goal is to make money.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    5) Why is Lillian sarcastic towards Hank? Because she's using him and wants to destroy him for her own gain.
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  • Posted by LetsShrug 12 years, 10 months ago
    9) Why does Phillip want the contribution to Friends of Global Progress in cash? Because Hank's brother Phillip is a pompous prick who wants Hank's money for his progressive cause, but not his (Hank's) name attached to it... It wouldn't look good. I wanted to kick Hank for giving it to him....but it was building up to him realizing who the guiltiest man in the room was.
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Or too much tequila... :) In that state anything can seem possible... gold from straw... federal government balances budget... pie in the sky...
    Where's the _____ salt???
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    too much yard work OA? Let's figure out how to make diamonds from tequila. sounds sort of Rumplestiltskin-y to me :)
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    it is so sad, because once I was an innocent and I hate cynics and cynically written novels. Until my book comes out, have I already steered you to other authors in the Gulch? Check out overmanwarrior's website. He has two thrillers and has recently been on the fore front of the IRS deal in Cincinnati. I read his first novel, Symposium of Justice, and enjoyed it very much. Many have read his second novel, Tail of the Dragon. I am out of the country and it isn't on Kindle. also, Walter Donway, who knew Rand and has spent the better part of his life studying Objectivism, has two erotica/thrillers out and a fantasy/thriller, as well as two books of poetry. I have read all of his novels and they are well-done.
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  • Posted by Rocky_Road 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    That would have made him a proactive, and positive, character...unlike the victim of his own failed philosophy.

    Suicide by ignorance....
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  • Posted by Rocky_Road 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    You are such the cynic.... (insert wink here, since I am not adept enough to do this).

    Where's your book????
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  • Posted by Rocky_Road 12 years, 10 months ago
    "Why did Rand state that Hank thought of his wife as "an abstraction?""

    Because she was not a positive part of his ascension, or of any real worth in his regards.

    She was a bit player in his life, and tolerable up to a point further into the story.
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  • Posted by khalling 12 years, 10 months ago in reply to this comment.
    that was actually very well done in the movie. That is what he said, how much went into his pocket? :)
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