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Atlas Shrugged: Would this man be better off dead???
Ichben
Member UncommonPosts: 296
I was reading a book the other day and the book was called Atlas Shrugged. The book is a good book and the book is long. It has been a joy to read but at the same time it has been a horror to endure. There is a boy in the book and the boy is scared. The boy is the brother of a rich business man named Henry Reardon. Henry won't help his brother because Henry thinks his brother is useless. He believes he is a lost cost so he treats him like a helpless puppy. He treats him like a dog.
I feel sorry for the boy because the boy, Philip is trapped in a world of darkness. He is trapped in a world of no time and no space. He is dependent on the wealth of his brother and the love of his mother but in the end it simply isn't enough for Philip. Philip wants to find his own way in the world. He wants to find his own job and raise his own family but he can't because he is trapped in a world of darkness, a world where there is no time nor space.
His older brother could give him a job but he won't "I need people who can produce" he said to his mother. "I can't afford to have hoars and prostitutes running around my factory pretending to be working when they're really doing nothing." His mother was taken aback by his words. She scolded him, told him he was heartless. Told him he wasn't a man at all but a machine with ice and coal running through his veins. He said he didn't care what she thought. "If Philip wants a job he will have to find one on his own."
Can you believe this guy? I mean how could a man with so much power and so much fame let his own flesh and blood suffer in his own misery and pain? How can he just sit there and watch his younger brother waste away in his own vomit and feces? Can't Henry see Philip needs a helping hand? Can't he see his is trapped? I think if I were Philip? If I were in the shoes of a man who is unhappy in his own home, a man who sees himself as his brother's slave, I would probably kill myself and be done with the embarassment and the pain. Is death the only option for Philip? Is death the only way out for this man trapped in the mind of a boy?
Sometimes when I look in the mirror at night I see a little bit of myself in Philip. I see the frustration. I see the pain of loss and confusion. It's not a good feeling at all and no one should be forced to live such a life or endure the type of humilation and pain like Philip's. Like Philip I am also somewhat trapped in a place of confusion. I am trapped with a monster and a Crimson King whom I can't seem to shake away. The King is old and will be dead soon but the monster, well I'm afraid the monster will be with me forever unless something miracalous happens to change my forturnes.
I do not know if I will ever find my way out of the darkness, and I don't know if I'll find my way out in time, but one thing I do know is I will try to be sucessful and I will try to shine. And I will get rich or die trying, no matter what, no matter how.
Money is said to be the root of all evil but doesn't money come from people so does that mean people who value and treasure money evil? A guy named Francisco Danconia said something of that nature but I do not think I said it right. In the world of Atlas Shrugged the government tries to suppress ideas and innovation at the expense of destruction and confusion. In the world of Atlas Shrugged men like Henry Reardon are greedy heartless bastards who should be put in their place. But what about the boy? How will the destruction of tycoons and wealthy businessmen help people like Philip who are lost and confused?
We all want to be the best we can be? And I believe most of us want to be our own man. We don't want to be so dependent on someone that it cripples us to the point of no return. In an ideal world and an ideal place, everybody would be as wealth and as proud as a Henry Reardon. Everyone would be a self made man or woman with the ability to do as they please when they please. There are thousands upon thousands of Philip's in this world and sometimes I wonder if there is any hope for this man, or is he better off dead? Or is it Henry who is the culprit? Is it Henry who is holding Philip down? Henry who is preventing his brother Philip from escaping from the world of darkness?
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Comments
in reality rich and powerful business men provide all the jobs to the useless, and are also the highest contributors to charity.
Philip is not dependant on his brother's wealth at all - he is free to leave his brother at any time, but rather than leave as a man, he chooses to remain a dog, so rather than branch out on his own he sits up and begs his master for a pity job.
What bothered me about the novel was the notion that only a handful of people are truly competent, the silly pirate parts betray her assertion that one should be concerned with ones self first, and the actions of the main characters at the end of the novel are self-sacrificial which is a nod to collectivism.
"The liberties and resulting economic prosperity that YOU take for granted were granted by those "dead guys"
You could read Atlas Shrugged. Or, you could pick the lint out of your belly button which would be far more entertaining and enlightening.
However, some good did come out of it:
I agree. Ayn Rand makes me lose the will to live. That is one bit of my course work at university that I'll never, ever, EVER revisit!
I agree. Ayn Rand makes me lose the will to live. That is one bit of my course work at university that I'll never, ever, EVER revisit!
Rich people will become richer while poorer people will perish because that's the way it used to be.... *Reality bites indeed... Like the picture there... was that biohazard?
The Philip character is an example of Rand's view of the "leeches" of society - people that lack the intelligence - talent - or motivation to live off of the fruits of their own labor. Phillip is pretty much a lazy piece of crap, and wants his brother to give him a job - not because he wants to work to support himself, but because he wants a veneer of respectability to cover his laziness and failure.
Rand doesn't say that the world is ruled by only a few competent men. She says that in a capitalist society, the best, brightest, and most motivated will naturally rise to the top, but she respects everyone who lives to their potential and supports themselves. In Midas Mulligan's valley she speaks positively of Henry Rearden - the titan of industry - and all the smaller players that work for him. In the scene where the mob burns down Rearden's factory, one of Rearden's foremen is brought to tears by the actions of the mob, though they are his own social class and Rearden is not. That is because, though the Foreman and Rearden are separated by different skill sets and innovative ability, they respected each other because they shared the same values.
Rearden is probably not what would be termed an "intellectual genius" like Einstein. Rand is not saying that only super geniuses can succeed. She is saying that every person can maximize their skills, intelligence, and motivation to be as successful as Henry Rearden. That may not mean owning a huge corporation.
Its been years since I've read Atlas Shrugged and I thought it was a great book, though it could have been 400 pages shorter at least. Reading through the whole thing is an accomplishment in itself.
The Philip character is an example of Rand's view of the "leeches" of society - people that lack the intelligence - talent - or motivation to live off of the fruits of their own labor. Phillip is pretty much a lazy piece of crap, and wants his brother to give him a job - not because he wants to work to support himself, but because he wants a veneer of respectability to cover his laziness and failure.
Rand doesn't say that the world is ruled by only a few competent men. She says that in a capitalist society, the best, brightest, and most motivated will naturally rise to the top, but she respects everyone who lives to their potential and supports themselves. In Midas Mulligan's valley she speaks positively of Henry Rearden - the titan of industry - and all the smaller players that work for him. In the scene where the mob burns down Rearden's factory, one of Rearden's foremen is brought to tears by the actions of the mob, though they are his own social class and Rearden is not. That is because, though the Foreman and Rearden are separated by different skill sets and innovative ability, they respected each other because they shared the same values.
Rearden is probably not what would be termed an "intellectual genius" like Einstein. Rand is not saying that only super geniuses can succeed. She is saying that every person can maximize their skills, intelligence, and motivation to be as successful as Henry Rearden. That may not mean owning a huge corporation.
Its been years since I've read Atlas Shrugged and I thought it was a great book, though it could have been 400 pages shorter at least. Reading through the whole thing is an accomplishment in itself.
Her message was clear, as the competent men disappeared, no one was able to rise to the occasion and replace them. Their absence was felt which means there are only a few actually competent men running things and if they disappear we're all doomed. The entire story is based on this notion which is contrary to reality.
"The liberties and resulting economic prosperity that YOU take for granted were granted by those "dead guys"
This is such an epic dilemma and I can also relate on this... People here in Japan have their own motivations in becoming rich someday.. If you don't work your @ss out, you'll die... ~Survival of the fittest!~
Read the OP in a creepy British guy's voice.
Atlas Shrugged is a terrible, terrible book.
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What makes you say that? I'm curious to hear ^_^. I liked it--I didn't agree with it, but I appreciated that perspective--one which is shared by the liberals of the board like smoke and fisher (though he tended to ramble and got quite belligerant toward the end).
Listen I love this Tale deeply however..
Philip is free, he can do as he wishes but he waits for his brother who is wealthy to give him a leg up.
Neverminding his brother had worked his ass off to get to that level.
Phil is useless in this regard, instead of setting for work he hopes for a chance. A chance is just a it states a "chance" "lucky encounter".
His brother being as he is, see's this and states quite frankly how weak his brother is for this.
A family member who is wealthy does not owe even his closest brother anything. ANYTHING.
Use and Useless are relative and a man who relies on his blood for the "chance" to be better is useless.
Men are defined by what they do. Phil can be defined as a man of want. A weakling.
I take the side of the brother because as a man of business I see his points and feeling. Business is a cold place and family has no place in it.
Phil was/is weak because he has no balls to take on his own until much later and even then he is a lesser man than his brother.
Too many write him as villain instead of what he is; a man.