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 3

Chapter 3.  The Top and The Bottom.

Characters

Dagny Taggart

Jim Taggart

Orren Boyle

Paul Larkin

Wesley Mouch: Rearden’s Washington man

Francisco d’Anconia

Nathaniel Taggart: founder of Taggart Transcontinental, present in the form of a statue

McNamara: contractor who will lay the Rio del Norte rail

Man in the cafeteria that Eddie eats and talks with

Newstand man, cigarette collector

Who is John Galt?

When asked “who is John Galt,” Dagney replies, “He’s just a meaningless phrase!… I don’t like  that empty piece of slang.  What does it mean? Where did it come from?… Why do people keep saying it? Nobody seems able to explain just what it stands for, yet they all use it as if they knew the meaning…”

The Meeting

The meeting in the beginning of the chapter shows the values and beliefs of some of the characters.  The meeting involves Jim, Orren Boyle, Wesley Mouch, and Paul Larkin.  Jim claims that ‘disunity’ is the cause of the society’s problems. Boyle agrees, “No business enterprise can succeed without sharing the burden of the problems of other enterprises.”   Boyle goes on to say, “The only justification of private property is public service.”   The men agree that the steel industry as a whole must survive.  Boyle’s failing business must not fail.  The men will use their influence to strip Rearden of his ore mines, and giving them to Boyle.  Rearden Steel, a productive company, must sacrifice for Boyle’s almost bankrupt company.  This is the basic premise of socialism, that the strong must serve the weak.

During this meeting, we find that both Rearden’s friend, Larkin, and his man in Washington, Mouch, are disloyal to him.  Both agree and participate to the plot.

San Sebastian Line

In this section of the chapter, we see that the San Sebastian line wasn’t built for the business, but for the sake of the people.  Dagney cannot understand why so much time and money was wasted on something that will not pay for itself, much less make a profit.  She remembers what those who supported the line said, such as “It is our duty to help an underprivileged nation to develop.  A country, it seems to me, is its neighbors keeper…. Since a man must think of the good of his brothers before he thinks of his own, it seems to me that a nation must think of its neighbors before it thinks of itself.”  These are more phrases that point to socialism.  Dagney fumes over them.  As a capitalist, she cannot understand them.

Eddie in the Cafeteria

The chapter ends with Eddie meeting a friend in the cafeteria.  He doesn’t know the friend’s name or what his job it.  Eddie trusts him, and “could talk as he did not talk anywhere else, admitting things he would not confess to anyone, thinking aloud, looking into the attentive eyes of the worker across the table.”  Eddie sits down to complain about the Rio Norte Line.  The man across the table from him seems interested in Dagny, asking if she ever goes out and what she does.

Possible Journal Entries/Discussion Questions/Things to Think About

1.  By this chapter, it is clear that there is a battle between socialism and capitalism.  What is the difference between socialism and capitalism? What statements represent socialism?  What statements represent capitalism?  Which characters are socialists, which are capitalists?  How can you tell?

2. We learn very little about Francisco.  The conversation between Dagny and Jim leave us with many questions about his past, his true nature, his motives, and his past relationship with Dagny.  What are some of the questions you have about Francisco?  What do you think of him?

3.  What do you think about the man in the cafeteria that Eddie talks to?  Do you think he is a good and bad guy?  What evidence supports this?  As his conversations continue, add and adjust your thoughts.