F. D’Anconia vs. J. Taggart In the novel, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand displays one of her idealisms when she refers to money as “the barometer of a society’s virtue”(383), meaning that money is the measure of a persons worth. This idea is brilliant because the perspective can be applied to better understand characters in the novel, including the two most polar individuals; Francisco D’Aconia and James Taggart. To begin this analysis of Francisco and how his money defines him, he must first be described based on how Rand created his appearance and personality. Francisco is inferred to be a hot, tan babe, attracting all women who surround him. Although he is judged as “sleazy”, most people still like him. Although there are some who don’t, it…show more content… This profound idea is related to specific events that occurred in the novel. First, the making of the John Galt line involves both Francisco and James; they both hate it. Francisco wants the hard-working, honorable Dagney, who is creating this line, to stop helping a society that doesn’t appreciate her hard work and to go on strike with him in The Valley. The John Galt line is created to benefit all people, Taggart Transcontinental, Reardan Metal, and all who receive goods delivered from their trains. Francisco knows that the system must fail in order to restart and become a decent place, and Dagney helping will only support the system. James on the other hand doesn’t want Dagney to building The John Galt line because it goes against the politicians and lobbyists he has deals with, and it personally angers him to see those like Dagney and Hank succeed. Although both Francisco and James are against this line being created, it is for very different reasons that define them as either helpful or selfish. Next, is when the Taggart Transcontinental train crashes and causes hundreds of fatalities. Again, Francisco and James are happy to put and blame
