Questions tagged [ayn-rand]
Questions about the works of the Russian-American philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand (1905 – 1982) or her life as a writer. If this question is about one of her books, the book in question should also be tagged.
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Where did Ayn Rand get the idea for Directive 10-289?
I believe Ayn Rand got the idea for Directive 10-289 from witnessing the start of the Russian Revolution. She was 12 years old and had a bird's eye view of what was happening in Petrograd- where she ...
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The conversation between D'anconia and Reardon
I'm listening to Atlas Shrugged on audiobook and one of the discs was messed up. At the point D'anconia told Reardon he had always loved a woman and it was after his trial, the disc died. The next ...
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Why do Ayn Rand's novels present specific, real things in a context designed to make them appear frivolous or ridiculous?
I will give only two examples. If anybody considers it necessary to see more than two examples, then it should be possible to find more examples.
The first example is in Atlas Shrugged, chapter 3 &...
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Is this Atlas Shrugged quote a deliberate Biblical reference?
Matthew 25:21 (NIV):
His master replied, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's ...
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Was Austen Heller's name inspired by Henry W. Austin?
It's no secret that Howard Roark was loosely inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Interestingly enough, on a recent tour of Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park, IL, I encountered a park named after Henry ...
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Why is Clem Weatherby described as a "technical expert on railroads" in Atlas Shrugged?
At one point in Atlas Shrugged, Dagny Taggart is in a meeting with various government officials. At one point during the meeting, the book remarks that
[Dagny Taggart] noticed that Clem Weatherby, ...
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What attracted Howard Roark to Dominique in The Fountainhead?
I can understand why Dominique was ultimately attracted to him. He really was the "Superman" she wanted, although it took her almost the whole novel to realize it.
But Dominique disdained Roark for ...
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Did Howard Roark contradict Henry Rearden on the purpose of work?
And Rearden said the following at his trial for the illegal sale of metal:
“You pose as a champion of freedom, but it’s only the freedom to make money that you’re after.”
“Yes, of course. All I want ...
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Why was Dagny Taggart so reluctant to call Dr. Robert Stadler about John Galt's motor?
After Dagny Taggart found John Galt's motor, she tried to find a scientist who could reconstruct it. None of the people she interviewed worked out.
She had tried to find a scientist able to attempt ...
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Is this quote by Francisco d'Anconia a veiled reference to the Strike?
Early on in the book, Francisco d'Antonia comments,
“In his lifetime, every one of my ancestors raised the production of d’Anconia Copper by about ten per cent. I intend to raise it by one hundred.”...
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Was Francisco d'Anconia's deliberate destruction of his competitors counterproductive to the purpose of the Strike?
Related: Why was Francisco d'Anconia amused by Ellis Wyatt's imminent demise?
When describing what a playboy Francisco d'Anconia had supposedly become (including throwing wild and ...
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How could Francisco d’Anconia work for Reardon without breaking his oath?
When Hank Reardon was finally ready to join the Strike, he found that Francisco had already been working for him as a furnace superintendent - and, characteristically, as a very good one.
Clearly, ...
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Why did the Looters meet with Hank Reardon in the same suite that Francisco D'Anconia used to lease?
When Hank Reardon met with the Looters to discuss the Steel Unification Plan, he noted with some consternation that they were meeting in the same suite at the Wayne-Falkland Hotel that Francisco d'...
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Why did Ellsworth Toohey advise people against doing what they really wanted when he was a career advisor?
Prior to his job on The Banner, Ellsworth Toohey spent awhile as a career advisor at a college. One of his distinctive traits as a career advisor was that he usually advised people against doing what ...
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What is Ayn Rand's view of marriage and children?
It's difficult not to notice that the vast majority of heroes in Atlas Shrugged are unmarried and have no kids.
Dagny Taggart - unmarried, no kids
John Galt - unmarried, no kids
Francisco - ...
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