In this chapter, Rand experiments with Shakespearean-style drama. It is engaging until it goes overboard. This is what editors are supposed to be for, but I’m usually skeptical that 1100 page books see much editing. Chapter summary: Jim ditches a party and goes home, where he and Cherryl (his wife) have a fight. There’s a…
Author: Clio
Atlas Shrugged Chapter 23: Anti-Greed
Quick question: What was Mr. Hyde’s great crime in Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, the act that RL Stevenson thought would make his readers recoil in horror and fear at his barbarism? He pushes someone down roughly. Sure, eventually he murders someone, but by then his reputation as a scalliwag has already been set. I…
Atlas Shrugged Chapter 22: The Utopia of Greed
My current bookmark for Atlas Shrugged is the Temperance card from a miniature copy of the Rider Waite tarot. The deck itself is strewn across the basement floor, having been found and claimed by kidlet as a toy. I chose this card as a reminder not to fall into the trap of absolutist thought that…
Refudiate
Sarah Palin has brought herself attention recently by following in the footsteps of George Bush: By mashing two words together. Specifically, she tweeted that peaceful Muslims ought to refudiate something or other with regards to the proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York. This got me wondering about the two words that she’d apparently…
Atlas Shrugged Chapter 21: Atlantis
Well, it was a long slog to get here through some dark and repetitive prose, but: John Galt at last! I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live my life for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine. Chapter summary: Dagny wakes…
Atlas Shrugged: Intrinsic v extrinsic
I am not convinced of the absolutism of Rand, but there’s one element of critiques of her that I think is missing the point. Here’s a typical summation of Objectivism: It’s an extremely alluring premise- live up to your full potential, care only about yourself, succeed, work hard, don’t let anyone take what’s rightfully yours…
Atlas Shrugged: Reassessment #2
So, here I am, nearly two thirds of the way through the book, more than a week ahead of my schedule. I consider myself a sprinter at tasks. I’ll describe myself thus: I lose interest. After a big burst of energy at the outset, I’ll wander off to something else. As evidence, naturally, I’ll point…
The Roman Bulla
Because of our affinity for Imperial Roman culture and religion, we made our son a bulla, and bestowed it upon him at his naming ceremony shortly after his birth. A bulla is a Roman amulet which was worn by children until their rite of passage into adulthood. The details of who wore bullae and what…
Atlas Shrugged Chapter 20: The Sign of the Dollar
Ayn Rand couldn’t stand me, so she banned me. — Kid Rock Chapter summary: Dagny rides the Comet on her way to Utah. She has a long conversation with a stowaway on the train who used to work for Twentieth Century Motors, relating a story about a young engineer named John Galt who walked out…
Atlas Shrugged Chapter 19: The Face Without Pain or Fear or Guilt
All right, I think Rand has tricked me about the nameless worker. If so, good for her. This was enough of a continuation of the last chapter; it felt somewhat like Rand had put in an artificial, forced break so she’d have ten chapters in each part. Chapter summary: Francisco shows up at Dagny’s apartment….