Atlas Shrugged Sparknotes

It is quickly established in Atlas Shrugged that the Taggart siblings completely counter each other in business and personality; they are the Randian argument of reason and emotion. Unlike the antagonists, the reader recognizes that the hero wants to know, and wants to know everything. Dagny has Eddie Willers inform her on the latest news when she returns from her vacation with Rearden and after stay at Galt’s Gulch. She is constantly updated about the railroad while she is building the John Galt Line. With James Taggart, on the other hand, we see an opposite reaction. His first introduction to the reader, when Eddie tries consult him, is a harsh, “Don’t bother me, don’t bother me, don’t bother me”. Not even wanting to know if Eddie carries imperative news, James shuts his ears from reality, emotionally unable to handle what is needed to be done. By blanking out of existence, James cannot handle stress in any part of his life. Although James does not know what message Eddie offers, he know that Eddie brings a message of reality, which will present reality which will
Taggart shrugs off Eddie when he tells Taggart that was another train wreck on the Rio Norte Line. He responds, “accidents happen every day”- as if the situation will automatically fix itself. Taggart pretends that nothing can fix this constant problem, hence no effort is required of him; he created the illusion that any correct action of futile and impossible. When Taggart thinks of an idea for fixing the Rio Norte Line by using Rearden Steel, the thought is immediately propelled from his consciousness. Not only is the thought banished from his mind, but he makes certain that any similar ideas are removed from his colleague’s thoughts as well, forcing his mental lethargy on others. “Whatever you say,” he tells Eddie, “there’s one thing you are not going to mention next- and that’s Rearden