Readings
Atlas Shrugged, Part 2, Chapter 3 (Part B) - Part 2, Chapter 4
- Part 2: Chapter 3: White Blackmail (Part B)
- Part 2: Chapter 4: The Sanction of Victim
- Pages 438-495 in the larger Hardcover or Softcover
- Pages 412-465 in the smaller Mass Market Paperback
Podcast
Listen Now
79:27 minutes
- Enhanced M4A File (37.4 MB)
- Standard MP3 File (36.4 MB)
- 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 3: White Blackmail
Section 4 (438-440)
- What kind of stress makes a person "vulnerable" to the destroyer? (439)
- How is Ken Danagger changed when Dagny meets him? Does she have any chance of reversing his decision? Why not? (443-7)
- How does Hank Rearden respond to Ken Danagger's quitting? Why can't he blame or follow Danagger? (448-9)
- What is the basic point of Francisco's interrogation of and then speech to Rearden? What does Rearden learn from that? (451-6)
- Why does Francisco respond the way that he does to the break-out at the mills? How is that response contrary to his aims? Why can't Francisco continue his conversation with Hank after that? (456-60)
- Why does Hank Rearden risk his life to save Francisco during the break-out? Is that altruistic? Why or why not? (458)
- What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
Section 1 (461-475)
- How has Hank Rearden's attitude toward and treatment of his family changed? How -- and why -- has it remained the same? (461-71)
- Why does Lillian barrage Hank with guilt? What does she want him to think, feel, and do? What flaw does Hank see in that plan? (464-6)
- What does Philip say to offend Hank? How -- and why -- does Hank respond? How is that moral progress for Hank? How does Philip (and the rest of his family) respond to Hank? (467-70)
- Why does Eddie wish to disavow Hank Rearden's trial as not being in his name? How does Hank respond? Why? (473)
- How -- and why -- does Hank have a more meaningful Thanksgiving with Dagny than with his family? (474-5)
- What is Rearden's basic strategy in the trial? What moral principles does he appeal to? To what extent is he successful? What does he learn? (476-82)
- How do people respond to the trial of Hank Rearden? How do they reveal their own moral principles in those responses? (484-5)
- Why is Hank concerned by Francisco's apparent pursuit of mindless pleasures, particularly sex? What does Hank learn from the discussion? How is sex related to economics? (489-93)
- Why does Francisco refuse to prevent the sinking of the copper shipment? Why is he tempted to do so? Why does Hank feel so betrayed? Should he be? (494-5)
- What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
