ShmoopTube

Where Monty Python meets your 10th grade teacher.

Search Thousands of Shmoop Videos


All American Literature Videos 200 videos

Other Perspectives
243 Views

Modernism was the happy, optimistic bandwagon that every writer just had to jump on. Okay, so only half of that statement is true. But we want you...

A Farewell to Arms
20538 Views

You might be hearing a chorus of farewells if you recommend A Farewell to Arms as the next read for your Fabulously Feisty Feminist Book Club.

A Raisin in the Sun
18501 Views

This video summarizes the play A Raisin in the Sun. It discusses the Youngers, members of an African-American family trying to better themselves wh...

See All

Atlas Shrugged 2485 Views


Share It!


Description:

Ayn (rhymes with "mine," ironically enough) Rand penned this cult classic over 50 years ago, but it still resonates with today's audiences. Our question for you: is the main character always the hero?

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:00

Atlas Shrugged all AskMe up let's talk about Atlas Shrugged novel by Ayn Rand

00:05

crucible how do we define a hero well

00:08

here was often but not always the same as the main character

00:12

you can identify the main character because he changes throughout the story

00:16

like

00:17

spot along finally learning to crimes

00:21

I okay back to the question

00:24

who is the hero of this story anyway it could be Dagny Taggart

00:28

she's beautiful exciting and she's a very successful businesswoman

00:32

in a very sexy world and her work is the vice president of operations for a major

00:36

railroad is valuable to society

00:38

as a bonus Jan strong ties to the underground strike movement led by John

00:43

Galt I'm

00:44

means she can challenge the corrupt government until the collapse of society

00:47

in the courtroom John Bowman is at that point she's no longer can be and she can

00:52

be

00:52

particle world her beliefs have changed she's now

00:55

wholeheartedly against the government she's definitely the main character

00:59

but issue here on baby the hero is John Galt

01:02

he's depicted as the person we should all aspire

01:05

to be as is common euros this guy has greatly resins

01:10

he's basically ingenious any in men in some world-changing but going to some

01:14

people he found the Mountain View in the lost city of Atlantis

01:17

even though we don't see got much you really drive the actions toward green

01:22

represents the ultimate

01:23

in objectivism be absolutely refuses the parasite that is the government so

01:28

instead he dropped rapidly create a new design based on his mom

01:32

in the end after civilization problem on the getting ready

01:36

meeting rooms and Jacob on but it's also possible that the euro is a group of

01:40

people

01:40

rans men if the mine are a bunch a brilliant inventors

01:44

scientist engineers and artist

01:47

they believe in the right to run their own lives without having to deal with

01:50

the corrupt governments policies

01:52

for example they don't feel an inventor should have to surrender all inventions

01:56

to the authorities

01:57

they believe they are entitled to have control and ownership with their

02:00

homework

02:00

we're taking a collective stand against a corrupt government

02:04

try and force change in the world

02:06

not make them heroes which one do you think is a hero

02:10

smoke among yourselves blowing

Related Videos

Utopias Becoming Dystopias
29768 Views

This video defines utopias and dystopias, and investigates how a utopia might become a dystopia. Can a seemingly perfect world actually be a dystop...

The Importance of Being Earnest Summary
123038 Views

They say that honesty is the best policy, but Jack lies about his identity and still gets the girl. Does that mean we should all lie to get what we...

The Giver Summary
105893 Views

Ever wish you could remember everything that you ever studied? How about everything that everyone has ever studied? Yeah, pretty sure our brains ju...

Invisible Man (Ellison)
1818 Views

Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man is an American classic. Hope you're not expecting any exciting shower scenes though. It's not that kind of book.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
1256 Views

Do not go gentle into that good night. In fact, if it's past your curfew, don't go at all into that good night. You just stay in your good bed and...