[TASMANIANRED]

I still haven’t figured out what Hanks social rank was prior to him “making it” .

[Publius]

Like Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, I suspect that Hank Rearden "came from dirt." I see him as the quintessential self-made man.

That means that Hank's mother is a poser.

[meowmeow]

I still haven’t figured out what Hanks social rank was prior to him “making it” .

Hank started young and threw himself into his work. We know nothing of his father, except that at this point he must have been dead for a long time. His mother and brother are total leeches and in that kind of family, he would not have known that manipulation - as a substitute for actual family love - is NOT the norm. Hank's focus was on producing and succeeding. At this point, he doesn't KNOW real love or real friendship and, apparently, doesn't know that he doesn't know.

Strong people who think for themselves are often the victims of their own families when that family bond is not nurturing but toxic and destructive. That is the hardest bond to shake off, but some times the most necessary. Hank needs an awakening...

[stylin_geek]

If I remember correctly, he never had “social rank” because he started at the bottom and worked his way up.

However, once he achieved money, he couldn’t be ignored, but, was condescended to, by those who have no regard for blue collar workers.