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Atlas Shrugged Reading Group

Session Fifteen

These discussion questions and podcast were prepared by Diana Hsieh for ExploreAtlasShrugged.com for people interested in creating their own Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups, as well as for anyone wishing to study the novel in more depth. They may be freely used for the study and discussion of Atlas Shrugged, provided that this paragraph remains intact in any reproduction.

Readings


Atlas Shrugged, Part 3, Chapters 4 & 5

  • Part 3, Chapter 4: Anti-Life
  • Part 3, Chapter 5: Their Brothers' Keeper (Part A)

Or:

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Discussion Questions


(Note: The listed page numbers are for the larger edition, softcover or hardback.)

Part 3, Chapter 4: Anti-Life

Section 1 (864-885)

  • Why does Jim Taggart want to celebrate the upcoming nationalization of D'Anconia Copper?  Why doesn't he want to admit the nature of his satisfaction to himself?  (864-71)
  • How has Cherryl Taggart changed since her wedding?  What kind of person is she now? What has she learned about Jim? (868-885)
  • What is Jim Taggart's view of love?  Is it right or wrong?  Why?  (876-7, 881-2)
  • What are the similarities and differences between Jim's marriage to Cherryl and Lillian's marriage to Hank?  Which is worse?  (873-883)
  • How and why is Cherryl already destroyed by Jim, when she realizes what kind of person Jim is?  (882-3)

Section 2 (886-892)

  • What is Dagny's psychological state now?  What does she think of her choice to leave the valley?  (886-7)
  • Why does Cherryl visit Dagny?  What kind of support does Dagny offer her?  Why does Dagny offer that support?  (887-92)

Section 3 (892-900)

  • How has Lillian Rearden changed in recent months?  What is her psychological state?  What has caused the change? (893-7)
  • What does Lillian reveal about her understanding of Hank Rearden's virtues -- when she married him and now?  What were her motives in marrying him?  (898-9)
  • What is the significance of the sex between Lillian and Jim, including the way it begins?  How is it revenge on Hank Rearden?  How is it another Gift Certificate in Lillian's eyes?  (898-900)

Section 4 (900-908)

  • Why is Cherryl so shaken by realizing that Jim has slept with another woman?  Why does Jim respond as he does when Cherryl tells him that she knows?  Why is that so unbearable for her? (900-4)
  • What is Jim's explanation for why he married Cherryl?  Why is she so horrified by that?  (902-4)
  • What does Cherryl think as she wanders the streets of New York City?  Why doesn't she go to Dagny?  Why can't she start over?  Could she have been saved by the valley?  (904-8)

Whole Chapter

  • What is the significance of the title of this chapter?

Chapter 5: Their Brothers' Keeper

Section 1 (909-925)

  • How is the transportation system functioning now?  How is that the natural result of the government policies?  What will its future be?  (910-5)
  • How does Jim react to Dagny's suggestion that the looters give up power and allow the producers to rebuild the country?  Why?  Why does he want to retain power?  (916-7)
  • Is Jim right or wrong to say that we are our brother's keepers?  Why?  (917-8)
  • What is the significance of the way in which D'Anconia Copper is nationalized?  What were the looters counting on?  Why do they feel cheated?  (918-20)
  • What is Dagny's reaction to the destruction of D'Anconia Copper?  Why does she feel that way?  What is Hank Rearden's reaction?  How do their reactions contrast with the reaction of Jim Taggart and other people?  (920-25)
  • Why is Hank Rearden bored with his work now? (922) What motivates him to keep working?  (923-4)

Section 2 (925-936)

  • What is the current state of the world? (925-7)
  • Why does Philip Rearden want a job from Hank Rearden?  Why does Hank refuse him? (927-32)
  • What lesson does Hank learn from his divorce from Lillian?  (932-4)
  • How does the Wet Nurse asking for a job differ from Philip's demand for a job?  What has the Wet Nurse learned from his two years with Hank Rearden? (934-6, 927-32)