Atlas Shrugged [0]
Ayn Rand
简介
Atlas Shrugged is a novel by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957 in the United States. It was Rand's fourth, longest and last novel. As indicated by its working title The Strike, the book explores a dystopian United States where leading innovators, ranging from industrialists to artists, refuse to be exploited by society. The protagonist, Dagny Taggart, sees society collapse around her as the government increasingly asserts control over all industry, while society's most productive citizens, led by the mysterious John Galt, progressively disappear. Galt describes the strike as "stopping the motor of the world" by withdrawing the "minds" that drive society's growth and productivity; with their strike these creative minds hope to demonstrate that the economy and society would collapse without the profit motive and the efforts of the rational and productive. The novel's title is a reference to the mythical Titan, Atlas, who in the novel is said to hold the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. The character of Francisco d'Anconia at one point asks what sort of advice someone would give to Atlas, and Francisco says he'd tell Atlas "to shrug" (with Atlas being a metaphor for the champions of industry who keep the world in place). The novel includes elements of mystery and science fiction, and it contains Rand's most extensive statement of Objectivism in any of her works of fiction, a lengthy monologue delivered by the strike's leader, John Galt. The theme of Atlas Shrugged is the morality of rational self-interest and portrayal of self-loathing of monetary values within a once thriving "New America". It advocates the core tenets of Rand's philosophy of Objectivism and expresses her concept of human achievement. The book explores a number of philosophical themes that Rand would subsequently develop into the philosophy of Objectivism. It centers on the decline of Western civilization, and Rand described it as demonstrating the theme of "the role of man's mind in existence." In doing so it expresses many facets of Rand's philosophy, such as the advocacy of reason, individualism, the market economy and the failure of government coercion. Atlas Shrugged received largely negative reviews after its 1957 publication,[7] but achieved enduring popularity and consistent sales in the following decades. In the wake of the late 2000s recession sales of Atlas Shrugged have sharply increased, according to The Economist magazine and The New York Times. The Economist reported that the fifty-two-year-old novel ranked #33 among Amazon.com's top-selling books on 13 January, 2009.
CONTENTS
PART I
NON-CONTRADICTION
I THE THEME
II THE CHAIN
III THE TOP AND THE BOTTOM
IV THE IMMOVABLE MOVERS
V THE CLIMAX OF THE D'ANCONIAS
VI THE NON-COMMERCIAL
VII THE EXPLOITERS AND THE EXPLOITED
VIII THE JOHN GALT LINE
IX THE SACRED AND THE PROFANE
X WYATT'S TORCH
PART II
EITHER-OR
I THE MAN WHO BELONGED ON EARTH
II THE ARISTOCRACY OF PULL
III WHITE BLACKMAIL
IV THE SANCTION OF THE VICTIM
V ACCOUNT OVERDRAWN
VI MIRACLE METAL
VII THE MORATORIUM ON BRAINS
VIII BY OUR LOVE
IX THE FACE WITHOUT PAIN OR FEAR OR GUILT
X THE SIGN OF THE DOLLAR
PART III
A IS A
I ATLANTIS
II THE UTOPIA OF GREED
III ANTI-GREED
IV ANTI-LIFE
V THEIR BROTHERS' KEEPERS
VI THE CONCERTO OF DELIVERANCE
VII "THIS IS JOHN GALT SPEAKING"
VIII THE EGOIST
IX THE GENERATOR
X IN THE NAME OF THE BEST WITHIN US
PART I:NON-CONTRADICTION
CHAPTER I: THE THEME
"Who is John Galt?"
The light was ebbing, and Eddie Willers could not distinguish the bum's face. The bum had said it simply, without expression. But from the sunset far at the end of the street, yellow glints caught his eyes, and the eyes looked straight at Eddie Willers, mocking and still-as if the question had been addressed to the causeless uneasiness within him.
"Why did you say that?" asked Eddie Willers, his voice tense.
The bum leaned against the side of the doorway; a wedge of broken glass behind him reflected the metal yellow of the sky.
"Why does it bother you?"