We Shrugged: A Critical Analysis of Ayn Rand's Magnum Opus

Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" has inspired generations of American politicians and capitalists, yet the novel's most important monologue - delivered by the infamous John Galt - has largely escaped academic scrutiny. Galt, the "best representative" of Rand's contentious Objectivist philosophy, provides readers with a comprehensive defense of her unique meta-ethical system at the climax of the novel. In this thesis I perform a close analysis of Galt's speech, drawing forth the three interdependent strands - history, philosophy, and rhetoric - of his argument to present an accessible critique of Objectivism in its primary form. My examination reveals how Galt's oration obscures fallacies in order to assimilate unwitting readers into her philosophical system. Although I identified as an avid Randian only three years ago, I now provide a philosophical and literary explication of Objectivist ethics highlighting Galt's gaps in logic, appeals to prejudice, and rhetorical allusions. In doing so, I preserve the philosophical value of Objectivism while emphasizing the harmful ways the philosophical underpinnings of "Atlas Shrugged" exacerbate the self-serving and polarized political divisions in the United States today.