Atlas Shrugged
...o are satisfied and complacent without ever achieving anything. Though the polarization of the characters is clearly to highlight the embodying character’s flaws or attributes, the characters interweave seamlessly in a demonstration of personal motivation being a perceived flaw. Although much of the book occurs in an industrial or office setting, the interactions between the characters is incredibly intense. The implied and stated affects of personal motivation on interpersonal relationships is vivid. The revelation of Darby’s feelings toward the other characters invokes an intense visceral reaction to her sense of solitude. To casually incorporate a bit of Marxism, this would be a weak containment model of society’s assertion that professional accomplishment, especially that of a woman, leads to isolation and loneliness. The affects of the characters’ dedication to their work was the most poignant observation of the application of personal motivation to “real life.” Although the motivations were varied (i.e. dedication to a lifetime of work, avoidance of marital woes, or desire for monetary success), the result was the formation of a life (or lives) around motivation. The work ethic and dedication of Darby was, for me, the most intense aspect of character development. Her willingness to sacrifice for the progression of the railroad was especially interesting because the choices made to prioritize her life around her work were done unconsciously. The progression of self through hard work and quantitative goals was so ingrained in Darby tha...