Hmm, again and again...

[varshaac]

Been away too long. Got to get back. And as usual, it is a book that prompts me into writing. However, no new book this. For the umpteenth time, turned the pages of Atlas Shrugged. Whew!! haven't I mentioned enough of that book already! I can hear cries of plea, of restrain.

This time, Henry Rearden meets with Francisco D' Anconia, in a party

Comments

Advice

[anonymous]

Chanced on your journal after a long long time. I don't know whether you remember me at all. But as some one who has been systematically disillusioned with Ayn Rand and her credo of Ego with a capital E, I can only offer you one piece of advice. Read Steinbeck. Specifically the Grapes of Wrath. There are many ways of looking at the world. To say, categorically and without brooking argument or alternative ideas, that "I am right, and if you disagree with me, you are a whining incompetent parasite; to say that requires a kind of desperate conviction. And that kind of conviction comes with being wrong, not right. Rand is a brilliant writer. She writes scathingly and bitterly and magnificently, but her ideology is flawed beyond belief, her propaganda is poisonous. I am normally not so vehement about anything, but it only takes a little thought to figure this out, as I did. And the best way to do so is to read Steinbeck. Start with the 'Grapes of Wrath'. And then maybe you'll write less about the virtues of unbridled capitalism and

Noted.

[varshaac]

I remember you. :)

hmm, food for thought. Though I admire Ayn Rand's writing, I like being objective, I dont really know too much of her other works. I always maintain that I like Atlas Shrugged. And I didnt like We, the Living, and Kira, I think both are majorly flawed, and the descriptions of Soviet Russia are too dark for my taste.

Inspirational? Because, the characters are perfectionists, and I would like to achieve that state of perfection some day. Atlas Shrugged contains characters, some of whom I would like to emulate. And having zero insecurities in life is a state of confidence in itself.
The books that you mentioned are noted for future reading. :)

Re: Noted.

[anonymous]

Kira flawed? Among all Rand's heroines, she is the most tender, and the most vulnerable, and I think, the loveliest. Anyway, that's a personal opinion. But Rand had some sort of grip on reality when she wrote we, the living. After that she lost it. Completely.

You know, I find it funny. That you find descriptions of Soviet Russia dark, and yet don't find the idea of the perfect world (as per Rand) scary. Also that you think that her world is perfect. Really? I think it is terribly inconsistent, full of glaring contradictions. Maybe you should read her non fiction work- the virtue of selfishness, and capitalism, the unknown ideal; these are impractical and faintly silly...But more than anything else, Rand's world is characterised by a distinct lack of humour. Her characters have absolutely no sense of humour, about themselves or about life.

As for your last remark, would you trade compassion for confidence? I wouldn't.

Re: Noted.

[varshaac]

Most tender and the most vulnerable? She is conniving as well. I dont take a liking to her. Also, I don't quite like the other heroines, DT and DF as well.

Soviet Russia, is scary, how else can you contemplate having to stand in a queue for your turn of bread, addressing each and everyone as comrades! Does it have a meaning? "Perfect" world as in Atlantis, is much much desired for. I havent read any of her non fiction, so cant comment on that. The proverbial quote marks it all.

And who does need to trade compassion for confidence. Atlas Shrugged's characters are compassionate towards the right people (Rearden helping out a kid in distress). There are no trade offs between the two non related words, compassion and confidence. Having insecurities is not related to being compassionate.

Re: Noted.

[anonymous]

You contradict yourself. If Kira is conniving, it is the fault of the system that you find scary, not her own. In any case, there is not a sly bone in her body. She does what she does to save the man she loves. By your own admission, Soviet Russia is dark. I think it is impossible to pass judgment on someone who is a situation like Kira's, least of all to call them conniving. That said, I find some of the dialogue between Kira and Andrei beautiful. Do you rmember the bit where Kira asks Andrei if he believes in God? She is so achingly precious and childlike in that dialogue, you can't help loving her

Re: Noted.

[varshaac]

I cant understand why Kira loves the man she loves. I dont find him any deserving of her. On that pretext she almost deceives Andrei. Andrei in himself is flawed. He is in the system, not because he likes it, not because he wants to change it. I am not sure why he is in the system. Yeah, the only notable conversation was when they discuss the existence of God

Re: Noted.

[anonymous]

Clap clap... both ur conversations go above my head... me poor n simple guy... content with Chandamama and Tinkle... kahan Chandamama/Tinkle.. kahan Ayne Rand ki kitaabein... sigh! Carry on ur *interesting* conversation gals...
again.. clap clap...

Rgds,
Venkatesh

Re: Noted.

[anonymous]

Galt is a hero but Leo is not? *grin* I give up on your thought processes. Also, Galt is referred to as the man without pain or fear or guilt many times in Atlas Shrugged. If my memory isn't deceiving me, there's even a chapter by that name. This man is supposed to be the ideal that all of us should try and emulate. *yawn*

What gave you the idea that heroes (or HEROES) aren't tragic? *grin* All the heroes in history (and fiction) are tragic. Starting from Christ down to Spiderman. LOL. Anconia is definitely tragic. Giving up Dagny, his forced deception of her, and all that blah. Btw, a purely academic question- Kira deceiving Andrei, not ok. Francisco deceiving Dagny, ok? Hmm. Kira is conniving but Anconia is a hero? Double hmm.

*grin* If these questions haven't occurred to you, you haven't been reading the right stuff. Venky, sweetheart, you definitely have. Tell me when you progress to phantom and mandrake. I love those heroes.

Re: Noted.

[varshaac]

Tragedy doesn't make a person a hero. I don't care what Spiderman and Christ have been through, and my perceptions of heroes are entirely different. FDA is a hero but not tragic. He was fully aware of the chances he was taking, and that knowledge and that acceptance itself makes his life not a tragedy. FDA "deceiving" Dagny is more acknowledgeable, merely because he imposes the same "deception" on himself and warns her, though she doesn't understand or would not understand the magnanimity of the situation

'Non contradiction.'

[anonymous]

*sigh

Re: 'Non contradiction.'

[varshaac]

The difference is in the people they prioritize. Leo is worthless and Galt is worthy. FDA however is not "sacrificing" Dagny for Galt, he is doing it for a cause he thinks is worthy and Dagny would not understand what he has understood.

Christ, well, I don't care, there are too many versions pertaining to his story, and I, being a non Christian, have the option of not studying them. And why should I even think of Spiderman, for "Christ's" sake.

And also why drag Venkatesh into this topic? He did not even express an opinion.

Re: 'Non contradiction.'

[anonymous]

Leo's worthlessness does not make Kira less worthy. Galt's worth does not increase francisco's worth. Akston would say, "Check your premises." We were discussing why Kira was 'conniving' and why francisco was a 'hero', not leo's and galt's comparitive worth. Kira is *also* doing it for a cause she thinks worthy. I did not say Francisco is doing it for Galt. I said he believes his duty to Galt to be greater. As a matter of fact, if my memory serves me correctly, he even tells Dagny that he would have given his life for Rearden if he hadn't already promised it to Galt. Anyway, in essence, the two 'deceptions' *are* the same

Re: 'Non contradiction.'

[varshaac]

"just to indicate the flawed nature of your reasoning w.r.t. heroes."
I am not going to defend that once again.

"this will be my last post on your worthy journal"
So be it.

"I am accustomed, in general, to more amiable responses."
So am I.