ATLAS SHRUGGED, what is the central them around this quote?

Question

"If you saw Atlas, the giant who holds the world on his shoulders, if you saw that he stood, blood running down his chest, his knees buckling, his arms trembling but still trying to hold the world aloft with the last of his strength, and the greater the effort the heavier the world bore down upon his shoulders--what would you tell him to do?"

"I . . . don't know. What . . . could he do? What would you tell him?"

"To shrug."

I have many ideas, but i want to see what others have to say, let me know! thanks for any help as it is a very deep book

Answer 1

The intent is: if others attack you because you are being productive, one defense is to stop being productive. Obviously, a society which did this would collapse, as did society in Rand's dystopia. My biggest problem with the book was that I could not justify Rand's logic; there are problems, which I have partially solved since.

Answer 2

The original title of Atlas Shrugged was "The Strike." The book examines a world where the productive members "shrug" and go on strike against people that benefit from their productivity without recognizing the contribution they provide.

The quote above takes place between Francisco D'Anconia and Hank Rearden when Francisco is trying to convince Hank to drop out of the dysfunctional society and wait until it collapses before returning.

Answer 3

Rand only explored (and exploited) particular aspects of society, then concluded virtues and vices should be reversed.
Sad thing is, a lot of people bought into it.

Answer 4

Discussing what would happen if those who support the world, those with rational minds, stopped doing so.

Answer 5

"one's selfless sacrifice for the community's happiness'