Ayn Rand’s, The Fountainhead is spearheaded by the struggle between individualism and collectivism in society. This struggle is personified by the individualist Howard Roark and the collectivist Ellsworth Toohey. Toohey’s true nature and objectives do not come immediately apparent, however his goals are fundamentally simple; to acquire as much power as possible.Unlike Wyand, Toohey does not have a prize that he aims to acquire, rather he aimlessly acquires power for its own sake, further setting up the idea that he is truly selfless and a man that could never of been.
His acquisition of power is commonly through proxy, by setting up puppets such as Peter Keating, creating organizations such as the union of Wyand papers and destroying anyone that has willpower and direction such as Howard Roark. These methods allow Toohey to control his surroundings for whatever purpose he choses, while reserving the right to shed those who no longer serve him; without risking his own name.
As Toohey forced Roark’s temporary exile from architecture a second front was being opened by Toohey. This front was his positioning of Gus Webb, Gordon PRescott, Lois Cook, and Ike the Genius. These characters can be separated into two occupational classes, architects and artists.
Lois Cook and Ike the Genius are the leaders of Toohey’s less explored manipulation of the artistic scene. These two artists are vulgar, unkempt and rebellious to anything and everything reasonable. Above all else they are second handers. Their only purpose is to infect the public’s soul and drain it into Toohey.
The architectural branch made up of Keating, Webb, and Prescott has the same ultimate purpose, but goes at a slightly different direction. Instead of shaping the minds of...
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...ewarding a good architect like it could be expected from a critic, rather Toohey cared only about changing the direction of the unstoppable force that was Howard Roark. Toohey understood in the fullest that Roark would prove to be incontrovertible, and also understood that the only way to stop him from attaining universal acclaim in the world of architecture would be by filling the space before Roark could reach it.
In a final climatic battle Roark,A single prime mover, collapsed Toohey’s nearly complete empire of second handers. Wyland contracted Roark to build a monument not only to himself, but to the beauty of what mankind strives toward. Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead explored the world of architecture. It opened the minds of many to the endless struggle between one’s own desires and love for himself versus the pressure of others that threaten to dilute him.
Philosophy demands literature that can abet the understanding of social views. Without reflective literature, man cannot begin to comprehend the essential messages behind philosophy. One such philosophy, objectivism, is represented exceptionally by the novel, The Fountainhead. Through the use of compelling dialogue, Ayn Rand reveals her own feelings towards objectivism, and her thoughts towards conformity and independence. The interpretations and the implications of several of the quotes within The Fountainhead accurately depict the essence of objectivism and encourages the opposition of conventional standards through the embodiment of the uncompromising innovator "standing against the world."
The Fountainhead is the story of an individual, Ayn Rand’s vision of the ideal man. It is the tale of his unabashed refutal of tradition, his struggle against conventionality, and his eventual triumph over the parasites who fear and lust after his greatness. This man, Howard Roark, succeeds because he thinks of his own accord and embraces reason. While others let themselves be controlled by tradition and trends of public opinion, Roark only follows his own logical judgement. That is why—in the midst of a sea of “second-handers,” people who live only in others’ eyes—Roark stands alone and magnificent. Like the skyscrapers he designs, he is an embodiment of rationality and perfection. It is his belief in reason—something that “no one really wants to have on his side”—that distinguishes Howard Roark. Men like Peter Keating fear it, as it exposes their hypocrisy and incompetence. Men like Ellsworth Toohey loath it, as it allows others to question and rebel against them. Only those who embrace reason egoistically, without regard for convention or prestige, can truly achieve greatness.
"The theme of The Fountainhead is individualism versus collectivism - not in politics but in man's soul." Ayn Rand
In reading the fiction works of Ayn Rand, one becomes quickly aware of her use of characterization to display a set of mores that apply to a group in today's society she is describing. In Anthem, for instance, even the names hold significance toward the point of the story. The name Liberty 5-3000, a gross smear of the philosophy of her world, becomes The Golden One, and then Gaea in the eyes of the protagonist. This use of a name, a face, to convey the message of a group becomes a common thread through all four of Miss Rand's novels. The Fountainhead is no exception. Though the names don't have quite the amount of significance, the characters presented are a startling appraisal of the personalities to be found in this country's artistic culture.
The Fountainhead, written by Ayn Rand, is a novel about the ideals of four characters, all brought together to play different roles in the architecture industry. Ayn Rand, originally from Russia, moved to America in 1925, only one year after graduating from college (Ayn Rand Intitute). She came to America to escape the fighting brought on by Communism (ARI). Witnessing first-hand the evils of communism influenced Ayn Rand to develop her own, now widely accepted, "philosophical system, called Objectivism" (Kavanaugh). Rand, through hypnotic, amazing writing, created a character to personify her system. That character is Howard Roark. She also created his friend and archrival, Peter Keating. The novel begins with the two characters, at the end of their college careers at Stanton University. Howard had just been expelled, because he refused to design a building for the final project. The assignment called for him to draw a building with specific guidelines. Roark, despite his vast knowledge of architecture, untouchable skill and strong passion for designing, only wanted to design his own buildings. Peter Keating, seeking approval of others, finished the project, as instructed, and graduated. Keating believes that one can and should do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means going against your own belief system--the opposite of Objectivism. Throughout the story, Ayn Rand uses a non-Objectivist character, Peter Keating, to glorify her own philosophy of Objectivism.
In the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, Dominique Francon was a strong, powerful, highly intelligent, cold and radiantly beautiful woman that believed that good could never conquer evil and she simply hated everyone. She had never believed that she could have met her match, until she met Roark because he surpassed her in every aspect. She recognizes the greatness that is of Howard Roark but she does not believe that he will be able to survive in the society that they live in so she tries to destroy him before society has the chance.Dominique surrounds herself with things and people with she despises because she wants to avoid watching society destroy things that she truly loves; like Howard Roark. She does everything she can to destroy his career before society gets the chance to do it itself She is portrayed as the type of person who is constantly dissatisfied with the world around her.
The theme of The Fountainhead as stated by its author, Ayn Rand, is "individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in man's soul." Three major characters serve as types for the noble, contemptible, and parasitic in this comparison. Howard Roark is an architect who serves as Rand's model for individualism to the extent that he is willing to sacrifice everything he has in order to retain his status as an individual. Ellsworth Monkton Toohey is a charismatic genius who uses his knowledge of human nature and collectivism to manipulate and control the masses, who hang on his every word. Peter Keating is an ambitious young man who is in all actuality exactly what the public says he is; he reaps the benefits--and the curses--of collectivism in his rise to and fall from the top. The actions and motives of these three men serve as a means of bringing the two concepts in question to life for the readers of The Fountainhead.
It has been several years since both Roark and Keating left the Stanton Institute of Technology. Up until the past few chapters, Keating seemed to be the more successful architect as he had climbed up the ladder at the Francon and Heyer firm and won the competition to design the Cosmo – Slotnick building which led to him becoming Guy Francon’s business partner. During this time, Roark spent time working for the disgrace architect, Henry Cameron, he opens his own office, but has to close it down twice, and he struggles to find clients who respect his designs. However, this all changes when Dominique Francon files a divorce from Keating and when Guy Francon decides to hand over his firm to Peter. After this, Keating becomes unstable and downtrodden.
John Thomas was a young man from New York who came from a poor family. However, that did not prevent him from making something of himself. He had hope that one day he would make it out of the squalor of the slums. He wanted to be a leader in the Big Apple. He dreamed of being one of the prominent architects of his day. As he looked around the city, his eyes always landed on the Empire State Building. He was drawn to the tall, streamlined building. He wanted to build eye catching skyscrapers that would catch people's attention just like the Empire State Building. He knew is would be a long journey and that he had a lot of work ahead of him, but he wasn’t going to let anything crush his dreams.
I have observed the continued evolution of John's work since then and the refinement of his architectural voice, defining a new standard for design in the American West with a refined formal language that innovates and inspires. John is indeed making a significant impact on contemporary architecture in the region
So rational engagement with architecture is a more effective means to comprehend and understand architectural form.
Architecture is all around us, from what we see when we go to the mall, or the airport or casino it in the big details that we notice when walk in the building, but also the little thing we would never think to notice these architects focus on to create magic. Eero Saarinen was a man who created modern work before his time that is still appreciated today. He built and created for some of the biggest companies in American capitalism such as General motors, IBM, CBS. He created airport terminals in New York and Washington that were unique and equipped for traveling. “Saarinen was just arriving at the peak of his fame and success. He'd been on the cover of TIME, he had A-list clients,” Eero died at the young age of 51 after brain surgery
Standing as, perhaps, one of the most controversial and, simultaneously, innovative philosophies of the twentieth century, Ayn Rand's Objectivism philosophy has gathered an unprecedented following. Demonstrated and explained in detail through the use of the characters Howard Roark, Ellsworth Toohey, Peter Keating, and Dominique Francon in her infamous novel The Fountainhead, Rand creates a storyline that effectively portrays all aspects of society - its evils and its goods. Rand's employment of both Dominique and Roark's positions in society, her explanation and justification for Dominique's seemingly cruel acts against Roark, and her weaving of Dominique and Roark's love for each other into a further enforcement of select core ideals of Objectivism, creates a perfect forum for both a promotion of the novel's core philosophy and a modeling of a flawless work of literary fiction.
Lewis, R., Architect? A Candid Guide to the Profession. MIT Press, 1998. Web 18 March 2012
Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead is a story of the struggle between men of greatness and men of mediocrity. An individualist to the core, Rand defines a man of greatness as one who is independent and uncompromising, one who derives his self-respect from his accomplishments and integrity rather than the approval of others. Rand defines a man of mediocrity, by contrast, as one who doesn't care about actually being competent and upright so long as he appears that way to others. Rand refers to these mediocre men as second-handers, because they get their self-respect second-hand, from the approval of those around them. In The Fountainhead, a man of greatness, Howard Roark, must struggle against these men of mediocrity, who either, like Peter Keating, pretend to greatness, or, like Ellsworth Toohey, seek to destroy greatness itself. As she chronicles the lives of these men, Rand refutes the idea that life sometimes requires a man to compromise, to soften his convictions when they are no longer accepted or convenient. By the end of the novel, it is the independent man of greatness that has emerged victorious and the compromising second-handers that lie fallen around him.