The Fountain Head

The Fountain Head
Howard Roark was an exceptionally gifted young architect who possessed an innate talent and passion
for design. However, his unconventional ideas and unwillingness to conform to outdated architectural
traditions resulted in his dismissal from his prestigious architecture school. Undeterred, Roark moved to
New York City to work for the renowned but disgraced architect Henry Cameron, whom Roark deeply
admired. Roark's former classmate from school, Peter Keating, also relocated to New York upon
graduation. Keating secured a position with the esteemed architectural firm of Francon & Heyer, led by
the illustrious Guy Francon. While Roark worked diligently with Cameron to design innovative and
artistic structures that showcased their creative talents, their projects rarely gained significant
recognition from clients or the architectural community.
In stark contrast, Keating's proficiency in developing designs that catered to clients' preferences and
management's expectations led to his swift rise at Francon & Heyer. Within just a few years, Keating's
strategic efforts contributed directly to a senior partner suffering a debilitating health issue, allowing
Keating to be promptly elevated to the prestigious role of partner himself.
As the years passed, Cameron's uncompromising designs resulted in his firm accruing substantial
financial losses, ultimately forcing his retirement in ruined circumstances. Meanwhile, Roark established
his own small architectural practice, determined to stay true to his visionary approach. However, Roark's
unwillingness to alter his groundbreaking concepts to satisfy client demands unfortunately necessitated
the closure of his fledgling firm. With few professional options remaining, Roark accepted a position
working in a granite quarry in Connecticut.
At Francon Quarry, Howard Roark felt an immediate attraction to Dominique Francon, the daughter of
Guy Francon. Dominique had retreated to her family's estate in order to distance herself from what she
perceived as mediocre architecture. One evening, Roark trespassed onto the estate property and a
regrettable encounter occurred between himself and Dominique. Upon discovering Roark's identity,
Dominique began a secret correspondence with him while publicly acting against his professional
interests.
Renowned architecture critic and public figure Ellsworth Toohey covertly aimed to impede the rise of
uniquely gifted architects. Toohey viewed individual greatness as a threat to his beliefs and strategic
efforts. He recognized Roark's talents posed a significant obstacle to his agenda, and set out to
professionally hinder Roark by any means.
Analysis
Ayn Rand openly acknowledged that she primarily aimed to convey her philosophy through her novels.
It is intentionally crafted with simplistic prose and characters to avoid distraction and keep the focus on
philosophy. She wrote simple sentences and did not employ the rhetorical devices that most writers
utilize. This stark style made sentences sound didactic or instructional rather than entertaining. Like the
novel's protagonist Howard Roark, the language in The Fountainhead is absolute and unwavering. Rand
bluntly portrayed the characters' qualities so that we could accurately evaluate the characters from the
outset, and become aware of her feelings toward them as soon as she introduced them. In short, she
presented the world as basically black and white—composed of those, like Roark, who subscribed to her
philosophy and those, like Peter Keating, who did not.
Peter Keating, Ellsworth Toohey, Gail Wynand, and Howard Roark are the primary characters of the
novel, but Roark is undisputedly the protagonist., Roark remains a fundamental presence in all of them.
Thus, Keating, Toohey, and Wynand function as either Roark's rivals or his foils (a foil is a literary
character whose attitudes or emotions contrast with, and thereby accentuate, those of another character).
The superficial similarities between Roark and these men first serve to emphasize the fundamental
differences between him and them, and secondly, to provide a clearer idea of Roark's character. Each of
these characters represents one value or belief.
Roark stands for inspirational strength and follows his convictions without ever wavering
Peter Keating, on the other hand, serves as a foil for Roark. He stands for plagiarism and sycophancy.
Roark's self-confidence and lack of concern for what others think of him contrast with Keating's
insecurity and desire for praise, a contrast that drives much of the novel.
Gail Wynand is a wealthy newspaper mogul who rose from a destitute childhood in the ghettoes of New
York to control much of the city's print media.
Toohey represents the archetype of someone who seeks to control and manipulate others by promoting
selflessness and sacrifice. His actions towards Dominique and Roark are driven by a desire to destroy
their individualism and creativity, seeing them as threats to his power and influence. Toohey uses
psychological manipulation and
coercion to undermine and control them, trying to break their spirits and force conformity to
collectivism and selflessness. In essence, Ellsworth Toohey represents the destructive nature of
collectivism through suppressing individualism, with his actions towards Dominique and Roark driven
by exerting control and eliminating challenges to his power.
At the beginning of the novel, Roark and Keating attend the same school, work in the same field, and
move to New York at the same time. Rand presents Roark as a natural being, his own man. We first see
Roark standing naked among granite cliffs, which suggests that he is as clean and pure as the elements
that surround him. Rand presents Keating, in contrast, as self-absorbed and unable to think for himself.
We first see Keating wrapped in a graduation robe, constantly reevaluating himself based on the
opinions of others. Whereas Roark thrills to a future he will carve out himself, Keating cannot plan his
future. The Fountainhead alternates between scenes of Roark's moral success and financial failure and
Keating's moral failure and financial success.
Foreshadowing fills the first half of The Fountainhead. Rand utilizes Roark's and Keating's employers to
suggest what her main characters will become. Right away we get the impression that Francon and
Cameron are the older counterparts of Roark and Keating.

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