Explore Atlas Shrugged, Session 8

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 2, Chapters 3B-4

• Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail (Sections 4-5)
  
• Part 2: Chapter 4: The Sanction of Victim

Or:

• Pages 438-495 in the larger Hardcover or Softcover
  
• Pages 412-465 in the smaller Mass Market Paperback

Podcast

Listen Now

79:27 minutes

Download This Episode

• Enhanced M4A File (37.4 MB)
  
• Standard MP3 File (36.4 MB)

Learn More

• Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, also available in hardcover
  
• Essays on Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged, edited by Robert Mayhew
  
• Atlas Shrugged Reading Groups of Front Range Objectivism
  
• AtlasShrugged.com, produced by by the Ayn Rand Institute

Discussion Questions

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

Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail

Section 4 (438-440)

• What kind of stress makes a person "vulnerable" to the destroyer? (439)

Section 5 (440-447)

• How is Ken Danagger changed when Dagny meets him?  Does she have any chance of reversing his decision?  Why not? (443-7)

Section 6 (447-460)

• How does Hank Rearden respond to Ken Danagger's quitting?  Why can't he blame or follow Danagger? (448-9)
  
• What is the basic point of Francisco's interrogation of and then speech to Rearden? What does Rearden learn from that? (451-6)
  
• Why does Francisco respond the way that he does to the break-out at the mills?  How is that response contrary to his aims?  Why can't Francisco continue his conversation with Hank after that?  (456-60)
  
• Why does Hank Rearden risk his life to save Francisco during the break-out? Is that altruistic? Why or why not? (458)

Whole Chapter

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

Part 2: Chapter 4: The Sanction of the Victim

Section 1 (461-475)

• How has Hank Rearden's attitude toward and treatment of his family changed?  How -- and why -- has it remained the same?  (461-71)
  
• Why does Lillian barrage Hank with guilt? What does she want him to think, feel, and do? What flaw does Hank see in that plan? (464-6)
  
• What does Philip say to offend Hank? How -- and why -- does Hank respond? How is that moral progress for Hank? How does Philip (and the rest of his family) respond to Hank? (467-70)
  
• Why does Eddie wish to disavow Hank Rearden's trial as not being in his name?  How does Hank respond? Why? (473)
  
• How -- and why -- does Hank have a more meaningful Thanksgiving with Dagny than with his family?  (474-5)

Section 2: (475-484)

• What is Rearden's basic strategy in the trial?  What moral principles does he appeal to? To what extent is he successful?  What does he learn? (476-82)

Section 3 (484-495)

• How do people respond to the trial of Hank Rearden?  How do they reveal their own moral principles in those responses?  (484-5)
  
• Why is Hank concerned by Francisco's apparent pursuit of mindless pleasures, particularly sex? What does Hank learn from the discussion?  How is sex related to economics? (489-93)
  
• Why does Francisco refuse to prevent the sinking of the copper shipment?  Why is he tempted to do so? Why does Hank feel so betrayed?  Should he be?  (494-5)

Whole Chapter

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