Ayn Rand’s Canvas of Objectivism
The individual is often pushed aside. The needs of one are considered dispensable when talking about what is best for the whole. We never question if the whole, our society, holds the right moral standings to provide all the individuals room for freedom of expression in all ways. "Atlas Shrugged" brings up our internal struggle that transcends into meta-questions of the human state and existence. Ayn Rand’s motive of promoting her objectivism perspective is subtle, and Galt is the perfect gateway. John Galt is the protagonist in the fight against group-think. John Galt is both the question and the answer in the examination of individuality in a population obsessed with the other.
In Atlas Shrugged we’re superficially entertained with economy and characters like Dagny and James Taggart, who serve as foils to one another, to subtly accentuate the real motive behind Ayn Rand’s work. The perspective taken might be taboo, especially with today’s polarized politics and lack of a middle ground regarding the economy. It’s hard to find books that so avidly embrace the individual’s capacity for greatness while rejecting the idea of “the public good.” Dagny Taggart holds Rand’s ideal views of how a person should interact with others and with oneself. She puts herself and her needs first, constantly fighting the forces who are telling her that they, and society as a whole, should be put before her wishes. Galt is the salvation, both literally and metaphorically speaking, that Dagny needs to free her from the loud voices pushing against her goals. At first Galt is a vaporous name that creeps into the most unexpected times. “Who is John Galt?” is a haunting question for Dagny, especially when her compass can’t find north. The question is strategically placed in moments where both Dagny, and the reader are stymied in choosing what is best between individual gain, and the well-being of a larger group. Rand always makes this larger group seem selfish, out to make the individual forfeit her success for their benefit, while making Dagny seem like a heroine whose goal of making her railroad line great is one that is best for everyone. John Galt first materializes as the “John Galt Line” is a successful victory for all of Dagny, individual capabilities, and big enterprise. He then materializes again as a leader of a revolution encompassed of entrepreneurs against big, overbearing government and society, that is crumbling and full of chaos. The name John Galt is then the answer to the problem of a growing society that engulfs everyone under a wave of lost self. In a place where individuality is ceded for the “greater good,” individual personality isn’t valuable. It also gives the word “selfish” a double meaning.
In Rand’s canvas, she paints society in ugly, dark hues of selfishness. Smaller characters, like Lillian Rearden, are dominated by the need to hold themselves to the higher standards of the society they embrace, to the extent of obsession. Dagny and Hank Rearden, and every other successful self-made characters, who are also bigger, more prominent characters, are painted with gold tints of prosperous selfishness. Rand will push us to favor this type of selfishness, and ignore the other, regard it as harmful to the success of ourselves and then through the transitive property, a threat to the success of every individual.
While reading this I started to question which side I agreed with. Though clear is the side that Ayn Rand wants me to agree with, and as persuasive as she is in "Atlas Shrugged," the society and environment around me has conditioned me to believe the opposite. So while I cheered Dagny on, I was also conflicted with my own political views, and questions, all existential in nature, bubbled within me. The most prominent question was one that challenged which side of me comes naturally: innate selfishness, or innate selflessness? Does my humanity push me to make myself great, so that then all of our greatness put together would trickle-down into our greatness as a whole, the ultimate goal? Or does it push me to help others around me be great, thus making me great? Rand’s answer comes in the form of objectivism. Ayn Rand is a product of her time. Being part of the “bourgeoisie” during Russia’s October Revolution, her view of a government that favors equal outcome and the sacrifice of the individual for the whole is one cloaked with hatred. Her views on the subject are biased with specific world experiences, that would impact anyone’s view so traumatically. An artist herself, her canvas was filled with words, and under her legacy, a collection of politically charged novels and screenplays, including "The Fountainhead," and "Atlas Shrugged."
John Galt is the collection of all the questions and answers raised by examining selfishness or selflessness and their role in how the individual interacts with those around her, and with society. Galt is the accumulation of all of Rand’s life experiences, supported by ideal characters and the laissez-faire economy motif, with her guiding objectivism principle. Her canvas is one filled with praising of the individual spirit, and vibrant shades of independence. John Galt is only one type of stroke.
