Ayn rand atlas shrugged characters

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There he vied with Hugh Akston for the loyalties of students Francisco, Ragnar, and John Galt. He adopts the guise of an international playboy as camouflage while he deliberately destroys his industrial empire over a period of years. When Stadler endorses the foundation of the State Science Institute, Galt leaves the school and damns him.

He respects Dagny and Galt.

Larkin, Paul
An old business friend of Rearden and his family, Larkin is a loser and weakling. He is one of the first industrialists to join the strike of the mind and serves to recruit people to join John Galt’s movement. He marries the beautiful actress Kay Ludlow.

Eubank, Balph
The proclaimed literary leader of the age whose plotless novels don't sell, he decries commercialism and materialism.

Ferris, Dr.

Floyd
Top Coordinator of State Science Institute. He betrays Rearden in order to obtain political influence, and later fails to deliver to him iron ore from the very mines that Rearden was forced to sell to him.

Lawson, Eugene
The former head of the Community National Bank in Wisconsin, which he bankrupts with his collectivist "humanitarian" loan policies.

WardA businessman who supports Dagny’s vision for the railroad.Ron ThompsonA government official involved in economic planning.Frank AdamsA factory owner who loses his business due to government controls.Tim BarnesA lawyer who represents companies affected by new laws.Nathaniel TaggartThe founder of Taggart Transcontinental, respected for his achievements.Patrick LoganA skilled train engineer who works for Dagny.Louise SandersA character who supports individual rights and freedom.Henry HarmonA worker at Rearden Steel, proud of his craftsmanship.Frank ConradA shipping magnate who supports Dagny and Hank.Jack KentonA steel mill worker who takes pride in his work.Maggie StevensA reporter who covers Dagny’s railroad work.Ben TurnerA government official trying to control the railroad.Mike HarperA dedicated railroad worker at Taggart.Kate RiversA factory owner hurt by unfair laws.Ted OwensA train engineer who respects Dagny’s leadership.Laura BlackA journalist who writes about the collapse of industries.Alex DanaggerKen Danagger’s brother, a coal business owner.Frank SloaneA supporter of Galt’s strike, values freedom.John AllenA skilled train operator for Taggart.Oliver SmithA farmer who loses land to government policies.Frank ReynoldsA businessman who stands against unfair laws.Joe DavisA railroad worker loyal to Dagny’s leadership

This selective listing includes the novel's more noteworthy characters.

Akston, Dr.

Hugh


The world-renowned former head of the Department of Philosophy at Patrick Henry University in Cleveland, Dr. Akston taught John Galt, Francisco d'Anconia, and Ragnar Danneskjöld. His interview with Dagny on his radio talk show backfires when she reveals the government's blackmail scheme against Rearden to seize control of Rearden Metal.

Slagenhop, Claude
Pal of Philip Rearden, brother-in-law of Dave Mitchum, and head of Friends of Global Progress, a militant and influential socialist group.

Stadler, Dr.

Robert
The world's greatest physicist, Stadler was head of the Physics Department at Patrick Henry University. Although she holds out from joining the strikers against the government because of a passionate love for her work, she eventually realizes that continuing to work for them makes her complicit in their domination over individuals.

On his night of triumph, Halley retires and vanishes.

Hammond, Lawrence
Owner of Hammond Cars, maker of the nation's finest automobiles, and another recruit to Galt's Gulch.

Harper, Pop
Taggart Transcontinental's aging, loyal chief clerk.

Hastings, William
The former chief engineer of Twentieth Century Motor Company, where he was John Galt's boss.

He blackmails Rearden to surrender the patent rights to Rearden Metal, and later urges the torture of John Galt with his machine, the "Ferris Persuader."

Galt, John

The main hero of Atlas Shrugged , immortalized in the slang expression, "Who is John Galt?

ayn rand atlas shrugged characters

For much of the novel we see him only as a shadowy figure, and as Eddie Willers' nameless friend and confidante in the railroad's cafeteria. When the government starts to restrict his business with oppressive demands, he sets his oil fields on fire and disappears to join the strike of the mind. His experiences lead him to join the strike.

Owen Kellogg

Owen Kellogg – A talented employee of Taggart Transcontinental who retires early mysteriously (to join the strike).

Midas Mulligan

Midas Mulligan – Successful banker who joins the strike.

Judge Narrangansett

Judge Narrangansett – A striker who is a proponent of free trade.

Dr.

He also begins his surreptitious effort to persuade the world's other creative "Atlases" to join his strike, and to withdraw to "Galt's Gulch," his hidden haven in the Colorado Rockies. He marries an innocent shop girl Cherryl, first attracted by her blind admiration, but becomes enraged when she begins to see through him and eventually drives her to suicide.

Realizing what is wrong with the world, he quits his job, goes on strike, and takes a job as a laborer at Taggart Transcontinental. When the government launches a violent attack on Rearden's mills, Tony gets wind of it and tries to stop them—but is murdered for his efforts.

Ward, Mr.

Hard-working president of Ward Harvester Company who tries to keep his family business going by dealing with Rearden Steel.

Weatherby, Clem
A bureaucrat lieutenant of Wesley Mouch exuding a candid, easy manner, he becomes Dagny's conduit in dealing with Washington.

Willers, Eddie
Dagny's indispensable Special Assistant—a lonely, dutiful man of great integrity but modest ability, loyal to Dagny since childhood.

A nihilist motivated by an envy of the competent and hatred of the good, James thwarts Dagny's every effort to salvage the railroad—and uses his government connections to destroy his competitors. This allows the audience to see the events of the story in a broader view than just Dagny’s.