Summary: When she finds out the curious fact that the San Sebastian mines had been worthless, Dagny, in fury, demands a meeting with Francisco. Before they meet in the novel’s current timeline, she recounts their past together, and their past romance, and his sudden departure. Back to the present timeline, Francisco and Dagny meet and have a conversation, where Francisco admits that his superficially depraved action is actually a tribute to his venerable ancestor, Senor Sebastian d’Anconia.

Amazingly, somewhere in all that, Rand manages to firmly embody her Theory of Sex, (which was the tag ad in the group chats sent off before the event).

Blundergroin Snoats brought up an immediate assertion to that: “In Atlas Shrugged, characters are sexually attracted to those who embody their values. Characters who have ’base’ values are attracted to those that embody their ‘base’ values. Characters who lack clear purpose find sex devoid of meaning. Characters with ‘higher’ values respond sexually to those who embody them.”

But, we are only on chapter 5, and have yet to see how the characters of “baser value” are attracted to each other. It’s amusing to note the immediate follow-up’s from Nakima Oh, “No, no. she really is saying they have better sex”, and Jordana McMahon, “Important people have better sex.”

But, I think it really has to do with focus, “In general, she believes that those with purpose and motive will reach it.” (Purpose and motive being pleasure and desire for pleasure.)

I asked the group what they thought of how, in her youth, Dagny would do anything Frisco asked of her, and how she enjoyed it when he slapped her. It’s a form of hero worship in her complete act of submission to Frisco. And also, the “mutual pain” Frisco deals her after Dagny brings up the fact that she mused getting straight D’s for everyone at school to like her, shows that he cares for her. (The proverbial slap is kind of like a Randian first kiss. ;-P)

The girls all brought up assertions that you should think for yourself. Eshi Otawara stated, “because in your head you have to live with yourself and your own decisions, otherwise you are a stupid puppet that lets self be controlled by other people’s agenda.” (I didn’t bring up the question of whether they’d be willing to walk around in the world’s ugliest coat daily for a year just because the feel like it.)

Ultimately, I’d say that Frisco was angry because of Dagny’s goal. That she would sacrifice her academic record for the sake of fleeting popularity. It’s kind of like jumping off a cliff just because all your friends are doing it, but in the Randian sense: giving value away as a sacrifice to nothing.

Next, I brought up the Tennis game. Aptly, though bluntly, summarized by Jordana, “Yes, you have beaten me and now you are worthy to have sex with me.” Although, Frisco did let Dagny win by breaking down into laughter—his great amusement that she would try so hard just to beat him.

ToryLynn Writer brought up an interesting alternative perspective, where Frisco, who does nothing without reason, talked the Mexican Government into nationalization just to screw Jim, and put Dagny (who had opposed the action) in a place of power. I pointed out that Frisco is also losing, albeit less than Taggart Transcontinental, and can afford to lose. Also, Frisco isn’t petty enough to do all this just for it, but he probably has a grander scale that this catastrophe is merely a part of. ToryLynn suggested that Frisco would marry Dagny and thus combine their wealth. Interesting long term goal, but I had to give away the hint that the semi-spoiler that the romance between Frisco and Dagny is totally over. (Nevertheless, Atlas Shrugged is actually an epic romance, with the complete package of mystery and philosophy.)

I digressed mentioning the fact that Frisco’s nom de guerre back as an illegal child laborer was “Frank.” This is, curiously, the name of Rand’s husband.

Official discussion transcript of chapter: http:// inacentaur.com/transcripts/2007-08-06.html

Official day’s discussion: http://slchatr.com/group/asc/sliterary/longhouse/2007-08-06

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