FReeper Book Club: Atlas Shrugged, The Chain

A Publius Essay | 24 January 2009 | Publius

[Publius]

Part I: Non-Contradiction
Chapter II: The Chain

Synopsis

Hank Rearden watches the first “heat” of steel for Rearden Metal poured at his mill. Then he walks home, fingering a chain of Rearden Metal in his pocket.

At home he is greeted by his mother, his wife Lillian, his brother Philip and his friend Paul Larkin. The group makes fun of the fact that his mind is back at the steel mill and complains that all he cares about is money. Lillian, in a catty way, asks Hank to set aside December 10 for a party for their wedding anniversary.. Hank tries to tell them about the big event at the mill, but they don’t care. He gives Lillian the chain, a bracelet, which is the very first thing made from that heat of Rearden Metal, while his mother makes fun of him. (The bracelet is to become a major plot point.)

Larkin takes Hank aside and tells him what a fine product he has but hints that there might be trouble. Hank has a bad press, is only interested in his steel and mills, and doesn’t care about public opinion. Larkin hints that there may be a problem with Hank’s lobbyist in DC but doesn’t go into detail. (This is Wesley Mouch, but he is not identified by name.)

Philip Rearden says he is spending his time raising money for the Friends of Global Progress, and he is upset that rich people have no social conscience. Hank tells Philip to go down to the mill tomorrow and pick up a check for ten thousand dollars. Philip barely thanks him and actually reproaches him for not truly caring about the underprivileged. Hank says he doesn’t care and was only giving the money to Philip to make him happy. Philip says that he has no selfish interest in the money – but he wants the money in cash so that Hank Rearden’s tainted name cannot be attached to it.

Larkin tells Hank that he shouldn’t have given the money to Philip, and Lillian sees the act as a display of Hank’s vanity. She likens the bracelet of Rearden Metal to a chain of bondage.

Hank Rearden’s Living Hell

The first chapter gives the reader a view into the lives of Dagny, Jim, Eddie and Taggart Transcontinental, while the purpose of the second chapter is to introduce Hank Rearden, his mill, his history and the nest of vipers he calls a family. One searches in vain for redeeming qualities, and one wishes that Hank had thrown the whole lot out on the street before the first page. The parasites who live off his wealth have no respect for the man who keeps them in food and gives them a roof over their heads. A highly successful man is an object of pity and contempt precisely because of his success.

The Real Life Rearden Steel Plant

In my youth, I recall a family outing to Pennsbury Manor, the ancestral home of William Penn and family near Morrisville, PA. Along the way, near the Pennsylvania Railroad’s (now Amtrak’s) Northeast Corridor rail line, I recall a large steel mill owned by US Steel. I don’t know if it’s still in operation, but its position with respect to Philadelphia is close to where Hank Rearden’s steel mill is located in the book.

Some Discussion Topics

1. It’s Rearden Steel, Rearden Metal, Rearden Ore, Rearden Coal and Rearden Limestone. Like all the heroic characters in the book, Hank Rearden puts his brand on everything that matters. Even Lillian Rearden makes it plain that she is Rearden’s Wife, and that is to become a major plot point. Lillian’s remark about the bracelet being a chain, the symbol of the family’s bondage to Hank, is rather egregious. Is this just another case of familiarity breeding contempt, or is there something more pernicious at work here?
2. The comments on the passenger train as it passes Rearden Steel are revealing. A professor of economics: “Of what importance is an individual in the titanic collective achievements of our industrial age?” A journalist sitting next to him: “Hank Rearden is the kind of man who sticks his name on everything he touches. You may from this, form your own opinion of Hank Rearden.” That these carping critics produce nothing is barely worth mentioning. But let’s connect these two people to their counterparts today. Does the use of the word “collective” give you chills?
3. Paul Larkin: “Why ask useless questions? How deep is the ocean? How high is the sky? Who is John Galt?” These words have been uttered by a bum, Pop Harper and Owen Kellogg. Larkin is now the fourth. (Kellogg is to play a surprising role later in the story, but we’ll keep that quiet for a moment.) Let’s connect Larkin with the others who have said the magic phrase.
4. Philip’s ingratitude and his general attitude of superiority (a major plot point) is dumbfounding considering that Philip “neither sows nor reaps, but Solomon in all his glory is not arrayed as one of these.” What is the source of Philip Rearden’s attitude of superiority, and to what does it connect in today’s world?

Next: The Top and the Bottom

[CottonBall]

From the incident with the trainman whistling the concerto, it is obvious that the people who know about Galt’s Gulch are still out in the world. They must be the source of “Who is John Galt?” However, it has always puzzled me that this particular meme is ubiquitous in the society and is a synonym for “Who knows” or “What's the use.” Perhaps it is just a tortured device Rand is using to establish the unifying theme and pique interest in Galt. As far as we know in the universe of the novel, Galt is unknown and his resistance is still underground. How would his name come to be a common expression? The only answer I can come to is that the members of the Gulch who are still in the world have been spreading the expression. There is fertile ground for cynicism and irony in a failing society where some can still sense that the problems are all manufactured. There is an obvious resonance of the phrase among even the most depressed.

good questions -- I was wondering myself. But I do know that I want at least a bumper sticker and a T-shirt.

[CottonBall]

(The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)

excellent tagline, by the way. And I think we are there already. ;(

[CottonBall]

The heros seem to be described more a statues, tall, cold, with out visible emotion. Hank's happiness is not visible to anyone else, though that could just be because they are s wrapped up in themselves.

I wonder if this will be recurring. Dagney talked a lot about not bothering to have feelings or pushing them aside. I wonder what the point of this will be?

[GeronL]

I’ve had the flu for the past few days. Haven’t been online. This reminds me that the left hates those who are succesful. So a Girls Basketball team beats another team 100-0. You don’t condemn the winners, their league had no mercy rule, they were only playing by the rules that were set up.

Its the same in everything. The successful are scorned. They often attacked Bill Gates and he’s one of them, just successful in business.

They want failure. They want to subsidize failure, like with the never-ending bailouts.

[Indy Pendance]

Please add me to you ping list. I just re-read Atlas a couple months ago. It’s ‘creepy’ how accurate a 60 year old story is relative to present day. I’ll finish reading the thread, and make any comments as appro......

Thanks, Indy

[Indy Pendance]

If your ping list is getting to big, perhaps halve it and do two pings.

[Indy Pendance]

I have had the bumper sticker "Who is John Galt" on my SUV for a LONG time. On a positive note, not many know what it's about, and the risk of being keyed is slim. As compared to my McCain/Palin bumper sticker, with, of course, McCain cut out.

[Indy Pendance]

Hence the encroaching ‘royalty’ mentality emerging in America today.

[Indy Pendance]

Johngaltgifts.com

[Indy Pendance]

I tried the federalist papers years ago here, it was a big dud. We all are here because we understand conservatism, and didn't need to discuss it in depth.

With the success of this thread, how about "Rules for Radicals"? We need to know the enemy, and digging into their playbook might be wildly successful.

[Indy Pendance]

Read your profile, what do/did you play? I’m a retired cellist.

[TASMANIANRED]

Definitely the truth..

Some of them think they are in the house of Lords.

[Indy Pendance]

Did you hear, they're trying to make Mrs. Obama into the next Princess Diana.

[Indy Pendance]

OOPS, Try this.

[NJJ]

>There are plenty of children of the motivated and successful who could not be less interested in emulating their parents or grandparents...

I recall hearing somewhere that children of great people rarely achieve similar greatness, however, grandchildren are more likely to carry over those traits. I've wondered if the children are too close to the original and subject to comparisons that are intimidating.

[Tired of Taxes]

has anyone else noticed that all the Heros are lean, angular, tall and fit and all the Looters are soft, fat and slouch?

Yes, and I also noticed Rand has a penchant for characters with blue or bluish eyes, especially blue-eyed blonds... Not that there's anything wrong with blue eyes. (I have 'em.) But, so many characters in her story have them. I find myself thinking, You know, brown eyes are interesting, too, Ayn...

[MtnClimber]

Mrs Obama looks like an angry militant to me.

[Indy Pendance]

She is an angry militant, ‘first time I’m proud of my country’ says it all.

[WV Mountain Mama]

I just finished this book. I read it in college and thought I would dust it off. I loved it, again.

[EBH]

Would you add me to your ping list?

Thanks!