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, Chapter 2 – Part 2, Chapter 3 (Part A)

• Part 2: Chapter 2: The Aristocracy of Pull
• Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail (Part A)

Or:

• Pages 352-406 in the larger Hardcover or Softcover
• Pages 379-438 in the smaller Mass Market Paperback

Podcast

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73:40 minutes

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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 2: The Aristocracy of Pull

Section 1 (379-382)

• What kind of person is Quentin Daniels? How is he different from the scientists Dagny interviewed earlier? (380-1, 353)

Section 2 (383-387)

• What kind of deal did Hank Rearden and Ken Dannager make? What are the risks? Why are they willing to take those risks? (383)
• Why is Lillian determined to attend James Taggart’s wedding with Hank? Why does Hank want to do anything but that? Why does Hank agree to attend? (385-7)

Section 3 (387-392)

• How does Jim Taggart court Cherryl? Why and how is she pained by it? (387-92)

Section 4 (392-422)

• How and why the wedding party a major political event? How do Orren Boyle and James Taggart think of and deal with other people, including each other? (392-5)
• How and why does Lillian bring Hank as a present for Jim Taggart? What does she reveal about her aims with respect to her husband? What is the non-material recompense that Lillian wants from Jim? (398-400)
• How and why is Lillian repeatedly frustrated in her conversation with Dagny? Why does Lillian want the bracelet of Rearden Metal back from Dagny? Why does Dagny respond as she does? What is the significance of Hank’s response? (400-3)
• Why doesn’t Dagny reproach Hank for appearing at the wedding with Lillian? Why is Hank tortured? How does that reflect their different views of their relationship? (396-8, 403-4)
• What does Francisco mean in saying that an aristocracy of pull replaces an aristocracy of money when a culture is freed from (in Taggart’s words) “the stranglehold of the profit-chasers”? (404) Is that true? How have we seen that so far in the novel?
• What is Francisco’s response to the Biblical claims that “money is the root of all evil” and that “love of money is the root of all evil”? What are the critical points that Francisco makes? How does he connect money with production and man’s mind? How is money only a tool? Why is the only alternative to money brute force? (410-5)
• Why is Hank so happy to see Francisco? What is the significance of the friendship to each man? (415)
• Why does Francisco reveal the impending crash of D’Anconia Copper at the party? Why does he want Hank Rearden to see the panic of the looters? How does that crash connect to Francisco’s speech on money? (421-2)

Whole Chapter

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

Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail

Section 1 (423-428)

Why does Dagny take the attitude she does toward the fact that Hank is married? Why is seeing him suffer the worst part for her, not seeing him with Lillian? (425-6)
• Why does Dagny say that if one person’s pleasure must be bought at another person’s pain that no trade should be done? How would that apply to Hank’s relationship with Lillian? (425-6) Should that apply to all relationships?

Section 2 (428-432)

• Why did Lillian suspect Hank of having an affair? What kind of person does she suppose his mistress to be? Why? (428-30)
• What is Lillian’s response to Hank’s affair? Why is she determined to remain Mrs. Rearden? Why does Hank agree to that? (428-32)

Section 3 (432-438)

• What is Dr. Ferris’ manner of dealing with Hank Rearden? What kind of agreement is Ferris hoping to reach with Rearden? What does Rearden choose to do instead? (432-7)
• What does Rearden learn about the looters in his conversation with Dr. Ferris? (432-7) Why does Ferris want people to break their laws? (435-7)