Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Chapter 5

Chapter 5. The Climax and the d’Anconias

Characters

Eddie

Dagny: called Slug by Francisco

Francisco: called Frisco by Dagny

Jim

Jim and Dagny’s unnamed mother

Francisco’s father is referred to

The Nature of Francisco

Much of this chapter discusses the childhood of Dagny, Francisco, and Jim.

We find out that as a child and young man, Francisco always won.  He was successful, capable, and competent.  There was nothing he couldn’t do.

Francisco told Eddie that “The reason my family has lasted for such a long time is that none of use has ever been permitted to think he is born a d’Anconia.   We are expected to become one.”  Francisco is expected to learn, to work, to earn the title of d’Anconia before he can work in the family company.  This contrasts with Jim, who is given the title of President because it is tradition for the first-born son to take over.  Jim did not have to prove himself, did have to earn it.

Jim v. Francisco

We see the difference between Jim and Francisco when Dagny thinks, “But Francisco seemed to laugh at things because he saw something much greater.  Jim laughed as if he wanted to let nothing remain great.”  Francisco has the ambition to create great things, while Jim only wants to destroy them.

Dagny

“They dislike me, not because I do things badly, but because I do them well.  They dislike me because I’ve always had to best grades in class.”

In almost every class I’ve had, when a test or paper is passed back and the professor announces the highest grades, congratulating the students, there is at least one other person in the class that whispers something like, ‘I hate her,’ or ‘b*tch.’  The rest of the students give her ugly looks.  Why?  Why does it matter what the highest grade is?  Why does it matter who made it and why does it make them hated?  Those who cannot get the highest grade (or are not willing to work for it), degrade those who are.

Aristotle’s Theory of the Immovable Movers

Chapter four is titled ‘The Immovable Movers.’  I didn’t realize, until Francisco said it in this chapter, that it is a theory of Aristotle.  It is a philosophical concept described “as the first cause that sets the universe in motion” (Wikipedia).  Check out the Wikipedia article on the immovable movers, or check out this more complex article.

Riding on the brain

While discussing the San Sebastian Mines and the stockholders, Francisco tells Dagny, “I don’t give a damn about your brother James and his friends.  Their theory was not new, it has worked for centuries.  But it wasn’t foolproof.  There is just one point that they overlooked. They thought it was safe to ride my brain, because they assumed that the goal of my journey was wealth…”

Jim and his friends staked large about of money on those mines, simply because it was Francisco who owned them.  They didn’t question the investment, they didn’t ask any questions about the mines.  They tried to use Francisco’s knowledge and success for their own monetary gain.

Quotes

“To him [Francisco], the Taggart children were not Jim and Dagny, but Dagny and Eddie.”

“Francisco, it was said, was to be the climax of the of the d’Anconias.”

“…Now the planners are asking their people not to blame the government, but to blame the depravity of the rich, because I turned out to be an irresponsible playboy, instead of the greedy capitalist I was expected to be.  How were they to know, they’re asking, that I would let them down? Well, true enough.  How were they to know?” Francisco talking to Dagny.

Possible Discussion Questions/Journal Entries/Things to Think About

1. While this chapter answers the questions about Francisco’s past and his relationship with Dagny, it asks many more questions.  What is it that Dagny is not ready for?  Why is he doing what he’s doing?  What is the truth about the Vail scandal?  If the Vail scandal is a lie, are the articles about his parties lies too?  In this chapter, we see the many layers of Francisco.  What questions were answered?  What questions still need answering? What do think of Francisco?  What are his motives?

2. Now that you know about Aristotle’s theory of the immovable movers, go back to chapter 4.  Why do you think Rand named the chapter after the theory? How does the chapter and the theory work together?

3. Dagny distinguishes the men she met at the ball and Francisco.  What is the difference?  Why doesn’t she those men?  How would you describe them?  Are there are other characters that, like Francisco, don’t fit in with the men she met at the ball?

Atlas Shrugged, Part 1, Chapter 4

Chapter 4.  The Immovable Movers.

Characters

McNamara: contractor

Eddie

Dagny

Richard Halley: Dagny enjoys listening his Concerto 4

Francisco: appears in a newspaper article Dagny reads

Jim

Betty Pope: Jim’s girlfriend

Dan Conway: president of the Phoenix-Durango

Ellis Wyatt: shows up at Dagny’s office

Hank

Where are all the people going?

McNamara quits.  As the best contractor in the country, Dagny was depending on him to finish the Rio Norte Line.  He walks out on his contract, on all his contracts, and nobody knows or understands why.  Many questions arise.  Why did he quit? Where did he go?  Why are all of the capable people disappearing?

Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule

The Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule was voted on and passed by the National Alliance of Railroads.  The rule would put Dan Conway’s Phoenix-Durango Line out of business within nine months.  “They did not like the Anti-dog-eat-dog rule; they had hoped it would never be brought up.  But when it was brought up, they voted for it… There were only five dissenters who voted against it.  Yet when the chairman announced that the measure had passed, there was no cheering, no sounds of approval, no movement, nothing but a heavy silence.  The last minute, every one of them had hoped that someone would save them from it.”  If this is the case, why did they vote for it?  It harkens back to what Boyle said at the beginning of chapter 3, “When people are unanimous, how does one man dare to dissent?”  The passing of this rule marks the first official rejection of capitalism in the book.

Dagny goes to see Dan Conway and convince him to fight it.  But, he won’t. He agreed to do what the majority voted and will stand by his word.  Rand is showing the mistake of falling for the majority rule.  It’s “nothing more than a mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people my take away the rights of the other forty-nine” (Thomas Jefferson).

Hank and Dagny

Dagny meets with Hank to see if he could her the rail in just nine months. They discuss the Rule and what is going on in the  world, along with their jobs and lives.  It is obvious that there is a rare connection between the two.  The chapter ends with Rearden telling Dagny that “Whatever we are, it’s we who move the world and it’s we who’ll pull it through.”

Quotes

“While it was true that such areas offered little economic incentive at present, a public-spirited railroad, it was said, would undertake to provide transportation for the struggling inhabitants, since the prime purpose of a railroad was public service, not profit.”  National Alliance of Railroads meeting to pass the Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule.

“It is proper, it is noble, that he should have endured suffering, injustice, abuse at the hands of his brothers– in order to enrich their lives and teach them to appreciate the beauty of great music.” Said of Richard Halley.  He retired the next day.

“I do not make terms with incompetence.”  Ellis Wyatt to Dagny, demanding the Rio Norte Line to be running smoothly by the time the Phoenix-Durango Line is shut down.

Possible Discussion Question/Journal Entry/Things to Think About

1. What does the Anti-dog-eat-dog Rule do? What does the National Alliance of Railroads hope to accomplish?  What type of economy does it create? What are the implications of this Rule? Do you think Rearden is right when he says that it is just temporary or do you think similar rules will be passed throughout society?