The Romanticism of Atlas Shrugged by Ben Bayer
Ayn Rand described Romanticism as "a category of art based on the recognition of the principle that man possesses the faculty of volition." In this session, we discuss how her novel "Atlas Shrugged" fits into this category. Drawing on the framework Rand establishes in her essay "What Is Romanticism?," we explore how the major conflicts in the plot of "Atlas Shrugged" express Rand's commitment to the premise of volition in man's existential action, and how the major value-conflicts faced by central characters in the novel express the same commitment in regard to man's consciousness. We also highlight the importance of each of these features of Rand's Romanticism and how they contribute to the enjoyment of the novel.
