John Galt

John Galt is a fictional character in Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel *Atlas Shrugged*.

John Galt is a fictional character in Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel *Atlas Shrugged*. He is a philosopher-inventor who becomes the novel’s central figure and is closely associated with the repeated question, “Who is John Galt?” Galt leads a strike of productive individuals who withdraw their talents from society, challenging the novel’s political and philosophical conflicts.

Character in *Atlas Shrugged*

John Galt is the mysterious figure at the center of Ayn Rand’s novel. For much of the book he is unseen, while other characters ask the recurring question “Who is John Galt?”

Role and philosophy

Galt is presented as an inventor and thinker who opposes coercion and values individual reason. He becomes the leader of the novel’s strike by productive people against a society he sees as exploitative. His philosophy emphasizes rational self-interest, individual rights, and the power of the human mind.

Plot significance

The revelation of Galt’s identity is a major narrative turning point in *Atlas Shrugged*. His actions and ideas drive the novel’s political and philosophical conflict.

Cultural impact

The phrase “Who is John Galt?” has become widely recognized as a cultural reference to mystery, frustration, and the novel’s broader themes.