We didn’t get to address the topic of “the theme” sufficiently, but several interesting points were brought up:

1. “Blank out”/Evasion by both villains (James) and everymen (Eddie).
   1. In Eddie’s case, he knows something is wrong but cannot identify it (and appears to avoid wanting to identify it).
   2. Eddie knows that he wants to do whatever’s right, but does not actually have an idea of that.
      1. He’s a follower, and depends on Dagny (who looked to the railroad, when he asked her that question in their youth)
2. The motif of the hollow oak tree
   1. Allusion to the Taggart Tower
   2. Allusion to the current world (we might be at the end of a [destructive] cycle)
3. Significance of giant calendar on public building?
   1. Government having the “power” to signify *today.*
   2. Days are numbered
4. Richard Halley’s RL Counterpart?
   1. Beethoven
   2. Wagner
   3. Rachmaninoff (Fountainhead, Concerto)
5. Dependence(?)

Please feel free to post comments, bring out your own points, extend the discussion, etc!

(Here is an edited version [1|2] of the conversation (GMT-8); please read the real transcript here!)