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TyLean
Dagny saw the bracelet as more than Rearden Metal, it was the manifestation of Hank Rearden's achievement - which very few people appreciate. It's more than a valuable metal.... it was made by a man who she respects completely for his ability. Lillian Rearden, on the other hand, sees the bracelet as nothing but a trinket to show off that she - and no one else - is Mrs. Rearden. Lillian is a looter, and Dagny sees Lillian as undeserving of the bracelet. In Dagny's eyes, it is morally wrong for Lillian to wear such a bracelet.
As for Hank's reaction.... I believe it has more to do with his own denial than anything Dagny or Lillian have done. Hank - at this point in the book - is still struggling with how his obligations, his responsibilities and his morals are at odds with one another.
As for Hank's reaction.... I believe it has more to do with his own denial than anything Dagny or Lillian have done. Hank - at this point in the book - is still struggling with how his obligations, his responsibilities and his morals are at odds with one another.
Paola
"Rand uses the bracelet incident to create important contrasts between Dagny and Lillian. Dagny’s love for the bracelet demonstrates that she understands what is important to Rearden and that the same things are important to her. Lillian, on the other hand, hates the bracelet and wears it only to mock Rearden. She does not understand or care for him at all. Although he despises Lillian, Rearden is trapped in an imposed morality and feels compelled to stand by his wife. He assumes that his inability to understand her must be a failure within himself. Although Rearden understands how much he and Dagny have in common and is attracted to her, he treats her coldly in an attempt to resist the attraction and remain loyal to his mocking wife."
-Spark Notes
-Spark Notes
Bridventure
This is a year old Q, but I just happened to see it now and hope you still need an answer.
Your Q is actually 'what (the) writer wants to convey with (the) whole scene(?)'. Rand's 'Atlas shrugged' expounds on her fundamental moral principles through a story spread over 1000+ pages, for laymen to get a grasp of it. Her exposition is also about how 'Right' and 'Wrong' gets fixed by an individuals 'Sense of Life' or 'Sense of Death'. One has to re-read the book to get fuller understanding of its implications. I've read it several times, in several ways -- beginning to end, or open at random any page and proceed, go back to certain earlier pages to get answers to Qs I've had. Mark links to pages back and forth, to make my subsequent re-reads that much more effective.
Your Q refers to an early part of the book, when Rand is still elaborating on the 'shades' of the various characters, a breath taking array of them indeed.
In this incident, Rand only makes me, the reader, to position the 3 major players in my scale of shades. Much later, given the gradual change in Hank's inner shades, he reacts differently to a related encounter between these 3 players (at Jim's wedding), when Lilian questions Dagny, in a very glaring implication, on her wearing the bracelet. Dagny's response is classic!
Also, some 10 pages prior to 149-50 of your book, you would have read the first encounter between Hank and Fransisco. Hank has a classical prejudiced opinion of Fransisco, and Fransisco for his own purpose wants to get at the root of Hank's nature. Rand's mastery in making the reader to properly place each character, is seen in the dialogs and reactions. Of course, our grasp of why they did what they did naturally gets clearer only at the later stages of the book. On my first reading, I was with Hank in my assessment of Frisco.
These are some of the awesome ways Rand paints the spades of her characters. So, my response to your Q is, go by what your grasp is on the players' shades, live with it through the book. I seriously suggest make your notes and Qs as they strike on the very pages. Then re-read the book along with your notes and Qs and you are sure to get your answers in your own terms.
Best Wishes!
Your Q is actually 'what (the) writer wants to convey with (the) whole scene(?)'. Rand's 'Atlas shrugged' expounds on her fundamental moral principles through a story spread over 1000+ pages, for laymen to get a grasp of it. Her exposition is also about how 'Right' and 'Wrong' gets fixed by an individuals 'Sense of Life' or 'Sense of Death'. One has to re-read the book to get fuller understanding of its implications. I've read it several times, in several ways -- beginning to end, or open at random any page and proceed, go back to certain earlier pages to get answers to Qs I've had. Mark links to pages back and forth, to make my subsequent re-reads that much more effective.
Your Q refers to an early part of the book, when Rand is still elaborating on the 'shades' of the various characters, a breath taking array of them indeed.
In this incident, Rand only makes me, the reader, to position the 3 major players in my scale of shades. Much later, given the gradual change in Hank's inner shades, he reacts differently to a related encounter between these 3 players (at Jim's wedding), when Lilian questions Dagny, in a very glaring implication, on her wearing the bracelet. Dagny's response is classic!
Also, some 10 pages prior to 149-50 of your book, you would have read the first encounter between Hank and Fransisco. Hank has a classical prejudiced opinion of Fransisco, and Fransisco for his own purpose wants to get at the root of Hank's nature. Rand's mastery in making the reader to properly place each character, is seen in the dialogs and reactions. Of course, our grasp of why they did what they did naturally gets clearer only at the later stages of the book. On my first reading, I was with Hank in my assessment of Frisco.
These are some of the awesome ways Rand paints the spades of her characters. So, my response to your Q is, go by what your grasp is on the players' shades, live with it through the book. I seriously suggest make your notes and Qs as they strike on the very pages. Then re-read the book along with your notes and Qs and you are sure to get your answers in your own terms.
Best Wishes!
KEY.Simsima
Rand uses the bracelet incident to create important contrasts between Dagny and Lillian. Dagny’s love for the bracelet demonstrates that she understands what is important to Rearden and that the same things are important to her. Lillian, on the other hand, hates the bracelet and wears it only to mock Rearden. She does not understand or care for him at all. Although he despises Lillian, Rearden is trapped in an imposed morality and feels compelled to stand by his wife. He assumes that his inability to understand her must be a failure within himself. Although Rearden understands how much he and Dagny have in common and is attracted to her, he treats her coldly in an attempt to resist the attraction and remain loyal to his mocking wife. (spark notes)
Conchita
Because the bracelet was made with the metal Hank worked so hard to discover and create. Dagny views this as of the highest virtue and regard. She will wear it with pride but his wife, Lilian puts it down and wants a diamond bracelet instead of what her husband created with his sweat and tears. Lilian has disdain for her husband's accomplishments while Dagny reveres them.
Hank was mad at this (or just pretending to be) because he was holding off on his love and passion for Dagny and this is his way to do it.
Hank was mad at this (or just pretending to be) because he was holding off on his love and passion for Dagny and this is his way to do it.
Gruia Novac
well, dnt rush it. its like asking to understand everything the moment you are presented with it. just read on and enjoy discovering
Boni Aditya
My father threw away all the medals and all the certificates that my mom has worked really hard to win during her youth. My Mom is an energetic woman who has passion and ran for things that she wanted. I remember the day when I and Mom ran and searched the garbage heap through all kinds of rubbish to search for those certificates and medals. My father is one of the most useless people I have ever seen to exist on this planet. He had no interests and his sole interest lied in destroying the passion of others and his logic behind throwing all my mom's medals in the garbage was that they were of no real value all those bronze medals were not worth a single penny in real world. He threw them away without recognizing the value that my mom assigned to them. They were not merely pieces of junk that my good for nothing dad thought that they were. Each one of those pieces held her memories, when she held them she feels the hardwork she put into winning them all. For her they were invaluable but for the son of a bitch that my father is - they were equal to bull shit. A person who is in capable of understanding the value of objects can never understand the value of people who assign the value to those objects. The woman who put her life to play tennis, shot put, javelin among other games to win medals had a good for nothing fool who never did anything useful through out his life - who believes that a thing is valuable only when it can be sold in the open market for a price. I guess that answers the question. For Hank the bracelet is worth his life - though he would not come out in the open and proclaim it! If one had to describe the worthiness or the life of Hank in one second all he had to do is - throw the bracelet on the desk and that bracelet would define Hank's personality, his resiliance, his capabilities, his innovation, the countless hours he has spent can be seen on this single piece of metal. That single metal is worth billions and his foolish fucking spouse who is not worth a dime - is trying to value it before other women who have no clue about what took to make that metal. The value of an object is the memories it carries with it, the emotions behind it, the value attached by the owner to it, not the value that some idiots who have no clue about the history of the object assign to it. Why did Dagny feel the intense urge to have it? Ans: Because she knew how valuable that bracelet was - She had the ability to judge the value of an object - and she also has the ability to judge people and she knew that lillian was a dumb blonde who would never know the value of the bracelet and she would throw it away immediately. Dagny wanted to have the bracelet because she knew that having that bracelet would make Hank understand that she knew how important the bracelet was for him and she would also be able to convey the message that they speak the common language that shallow people like Lillian can never understand. In short she was only sending a message to Hank - a message of appreciation that any artist, inventor, creator would desperately seek for - acceptance and valuation of his work!
Christian Maulsby
I agree with Paola and TyLean, its a statement and a token of respect and admiration. Also a way to show her distaste for Lillian while not being overly confrontational and petty. and I think Ayn Rands perspective as a Russian doesn't necessarily translate as well to the western culture. Especially more recently where prize possessions tokens like this seem to be less important culturally
Andrew Carso
Because this item is the FIRST ITEM EVER to be cast in Reardon Metal after years of blood, sweat, and tears on developing it, it was Hank's GREATEST achievement!
Hank's wife was at a party shaming him for giving her this "shabby gift", and Dagny knew what this gift really MEANT when Hank gave it to his wife. She wanted to show Hank that SHE knew it's true value, so exchanged it with her own diamond bracelet with no hesitation!
Hank's wife was at a party shaming him for giving her this "shabby gift", and Dagny knew what this gift really MEANT when Hank gave it to his wife. She wanted to show Hank that SHE knew it's true value, so exchanged it with her own diamond bracelet with no hesitation!
Constantinos Chronopoulos
I believe she didn't want the bracelet, her action was focused on the fact that Hank's wife DIDN'T DESERVE to have that bracelet as she didn't appreciate its meaning and value to her husband
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