Ayn Rand's unflinching political refutation of socialism, conveyed through her powerful work, Atlas Shrugged is a passionate allegorical tale of how one should only exist for one's sake. own profit. This idea is expressed through an assortment of Rand's main characters, but none are as explicit as Hank Rearden. “To hell with the public good, I will not participate!” » In Rearden's bold refutation of the "public good" at his trial, Rearden rejects the core ideology of socialism and declares himself an existentialist member of society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAt the beginning of the novel, Hank Rearden is a simple man trying to make a name for himself in the metal industry so that he can support himself to the needs of his family. . He lives to please his unappeasable wife Lillian, antagonist of the story's existentialist themes, and finds no happiness in his interactions with her. We first understand Lillian's primary role as a wicked wife when Rearden gives her the first piece of his metal made into a bracelet for her to wear. She rejects his act of love, and this is the first time Rearden is considered a minor (41). Lillian's main purpose in the novel is to help characterize Rearden's compliant character and demonstrate his initial inability to be selfish. Selfishness, according to Rand, is a positive trait that leads to success in business and personal affairs. Rearden ultimately acts on selfish desires when he falls in love with Dagny Taggart shortly after his wife's dissatisfaction with his metal bracelet. Rearden and Dagny's affair is selfish on both sides, but that's why it makes them both so happy. "I'm proud that [Hank] chose me to please him and that he was my choice. It wasn't - as it is for most of you - an act of casual indulgence and mutual contempt. It was the ultimate form of our admiration for each other, in full knowledge of the values ​​on which we made our choice…” (318). -above formulated by Dagny in reference to her relationship with Hank Rearden, she explains how being together was an individual choice of each Rearden chose Dagny to please himself and vice versa, no external force was pressuring them together other than; the pure admiration for each other that Dagny refers to Through this, Rand demonstrates that by ignoring the good of others and focusing on self-pleasure, great things will emerge. Rearden does not understand this concept before. his relationship with Dagny, but ultimately has a selfish revelation during his trial where he challenges the good of others and suggests existing for the good of himself. Hank's declaration: "To hell with the public good, I'm not going to take part in it!" refers to the two coinciding themes of existentialism and selfishness. The idea of ​​existentialism, existing for oneself rather than for the greater good of others, is conveyed through several different media throughout Rand's work. By supporting capitalism and tearing down communist principles, it expresses its importance. The public good, as Rand sees it, aims to work for the greatest benefit of a community by taking from others, while existentialism strives for success for oneself. This is the key, because the raiders take those who are stronger. By speaking these words in such a public environment, the character undergoes a change where he goes from submissive to powerful figures who aim to.