Summary

Chapter 1: "The Theme"

Chapter one opens with Eddie Willers walking toward his New York office. He sees the businesses failing all around him and is reminded of an oak tree that was struck by lightning when he was younger. Eddie gives an anonymous homeless man some money, and the man asks him “Who is John Galt?” The question disturbs him. It is a slang reference to everything hopeless and unknowable. He sees businesses failing everywhere.

Eddie meets with Jim Taggart. They talk about another wreck on the Rio Norte Line. They argue, with Eddie trying to convince Jim of how it should be handled in order to save the railroad and their customers. Jim says that nothing can be done.

Dagny Taggart sits aboard a train after examining the Rio Norte Line. She is listening to beautiful music that turns out to be a...