Atlas Shrugged – Day 012 – pp. 114-123
“It was long past midnight when she awakened in bed by his side.”
What the hell?..
Becoming a d’Anconia (for real)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 011 – pp. 104-113
On the ride home, Dagny asked her mother,
“Mother, do they think it’s exactly in reverse?”
“What” Mrs Taggart asked bewildered
“The things you were talking about. The lights and the flowers. Do they expect those things to make them romantic, not the other way around?”
“Darling, what do you mean?”
“There wasn’t a person there who enjoyed it.” she said, her voice lifeless, “or who thought or felt anything at all. They moved about, and they said the same dull things they seay anywhere. I suppose they thought the lights would make it brilliant.”
“Darling, you take everything too seriously. One is not supposed to be intellectual at a ball. One is siplysupposed to be gay.”
“How? By being stupid?”
“I mean, for instance, didn’t you enjoy meeting the young men?”
“What men? There wasn’t a man there I couldn’t squash ten of.”
Becoming a d’Anconia – pt 2
Atlas Shrugged – Day 010 – pp. 94-103
Francisco is a very directed young man. He deplores standing still. Worse yet, he despises moving aimlessly — without purpose.
Francisco was clearly the alpha dog of their little three pup pack (Dagny, Francisco and Eddie.)
He considers learning about life as or more important that spending time in libraries.
And apparently for most of his life, he has been preparing to run d’Anconia Copper.
He had an interesting take on life and wealth even as a young man…
“Dog Dog… Dog eat dog…” (T. Nugent)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 008 – pp. 74-83
“The proposal which they passed was known as the “Anti-dog-eat-dog” Rule”
Disappearances
Atlas Shrugged – Day 007 – pp. 64-73
And Chapter IV — The Immovable Movers
Dagny returns from a trip to United Locomotive Works in Jersey. She had gone to see the president about why they were unable to deliver the locomotives Taggart had ordered.
As is seemingly the norm, the president is bathing himself in self-absolution.
Upon returning she finds Eddie who tells her that McNamara (the contractor who was to finish the Rio Norte line) has quit. Retired. Quit. Left the business. Walked out on a fortune worth of pending contracts.
Looks like time for a little conflict build-up.
The Doers vs. The Blame Avoiders
Atlas Shrugged – Day 006 – pp. 54-63
Dagny has been against participating in this project from Day 1. At the time, however she was still a low ranking employee so she was SOL as far as her opinion went.
She revisits a Board meeting in her mind where Jim speaks at length about giving the Mexican people “a chance” and the duty they as the privileged class bear to extend that opportunity.
The board sunk $30 mil into the line.
Dagny thinks of quitting but tells herself that Taggart Trans. will need her now more than ever.
So while Jim is sinking a boatload of money (roughly $275 million of 2010 dollars) Ellis Wyatt is shipping loads of oil out of Colorado making the Phoenix-Durango line rich.
When the VP of Operations resigned, Dagny forces herself into the position against Jim’s protests.
Back to the present.
Hank Rearden – part 1
Atlas Shrugged – Day 003 – pp. 23-32
Anyway, Dagny closes the deal on Jim who accepts the decision with a running theme thus far…
“Well” she asked
“Are you taking responsibility for it?”
“I am”
The indisputable force and order she brings to the company is evidenced by how Rand describes Eddie Willers feelings when she’s around…
Meet Dagny Taggart (and John Galt)
Atlas Shrugged – Day 002 – pp. 13-22
Well we haven’t met one of the most famous opening lines in literature yet.
I mean with Ishmael you knew who you were talking to right off the bat… But let’s press on.
A-HA!