The concept of compromise has always been a fundamental idea of human society. To achieve mutual goals, to end conflict, to pursue peace, compromise has been utilized to agree on terms that equally benefit both parties. Ayn Rand, creator of Objectivism and author of the philosophical novel, The Fountainhead, views compromise differently than it’s face value definition. Society says that compromise is generally a settlement of a dispute by both sides making concessions; Rand reaffirms this ideal, though only in situations with “ regard to concretes, or particulars, implementing a mutually accepted basic principle, that one may compromise.” In general, the only compromises that are “moral” by her definition, are those which are rational. This …show more content…
For example, when the selection committee of the Manhattan Bank Company posed a “minor change” to Roark’s design, it certainly must have been difficult for Roark to refuse, and ultimately lose the commission. Roark desperately wanted the building , as the third person narrator describes “ A great deal more was said by the three men. Roark barely heard it. He was thinking of the first bite of machine into earth that begins an excavation (194).” From what the reader knows about Roark, however, is that he is true to what he believes in, and he makes this apparent when later he divulges to a confidant “I don’t want to think. Not their way” (197). The temptation was there, but for those who a possess the self-assuredness of Howard Roark, any question of moral integrity can be dismissed with a simple no--the details will figure themselves out in due …show more content…
In The Fountainhead, Gail Wynand loses hope of obtaining the life that Roark leads; One of integrity and self determination. Following the allowance of the Board of Directors of The Banner to print articles that would appease the public, but not his own beliefs, Wynand realizes that he has made a terrible mistake. “ You had better give in...” “All right” (689). After allowing the Board to take control of the paper, Wynand goes into a depression and refuses to ever be friends with Roark again, out of shame. Wynand loses his hope when he loses his integrity. This portion of the novel is the only part that truly confused me. Why did Wynand despair the way he did? I aspire to believe that everyone always has another chance. Just because one has an occasional lapse of integrity, even a major one, doesn’t necessarily mean that they can never get it back. By making daily decisions to make retribution for what one has done, a person can and should be forgiven by others; And more importantly by himself. In this way, everyone can maintain a lifestyle of devotion to one’s own convictions, to the end of having a fulfilled and meaningful
The government’s authority over several aspects of society displays its corruption and causes more people to become conformists who lack egotism in Ayn Rand’s novel Anthem. The government chooses the occupations of all of the citizens. It is the Council of Vocation’s position to decide everyone’s job, thus suppressing the right of the people to freedom of choice. The teachers, who had been appointed by the Councils, inform the students to “Dare not choose in your minds the work you would like to do when you leave the Home of the Students. You shall do that which the Council of Vocations shall prescribe for you. For the Council of Vocations knows in its great wisdom where you are needed by your brother men, better than you can know it in your unworthy little
In a world where compromise is part of our daily experience, there is something to be
Throughout the book “Anthem” the city has many rules and controls. Such as, not loving any person over another. Not saying the forbidden word “I”. Not stealing from another. With these rules and controls Ayn Rand created a collective society, but with the idea of a utopian society. The definition of Utopia is “ an imagined place or state of things in which everything is perfect.” The rules and controls listed above and the many more that are in the book “Anthem” describe a society trying to become collective but in a utopian way.
In Anthem, Ayn Rand portrays the idea that risks may be scary and hard, but the risk may lead to an even better outcome.
...en can't be ruled" (p.636). Howard Roark is a threat to everything Toohey has acquired. Therefore, in Toohey's eyes, he and his exceptional buildings must be destroyed.
Throughout life, you are faced with everyday conflicts; getting cut from soccer tryouts, not receiving the grade you wanted on a biology test, arguing with your siblings, etc. Equality 7-2521 was faced with conflicts as well; however, to a more extreme level. Several external conflicts throughout Ayn Rand’s Anthem, shape Equality’s character. The controlling factors of Equality’s society, that lead to several conflicts, prevented him from sharing his intelligence, choosing and communicating with others and venturing outside the city walls.
Rhetoric by definition is the art of persuasion by speaking and writing; being able to sway someone else’s opinion to match or appear similar to your own. Aristotle has given further definition to rhetoric. He created the rhetoric triangle. The rhetorical triangle uses the three basic credentials that people use to make decisions. They are ethos, or credibility of the author or speaker; pathos, or ability to draw emotion out of your audience; and finally the logos, or the logic of the message being sent out and determined valid by the audience. I feel that one of the best example that I could find of the rhetoric triangle is the character Ellsworth Toohey, in the novel The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. This character uses every part of the rhetoric
“Forgive and forget” is a common phrase in our society. However, one may argue that mistakes are never truly forgotten. The Kite Runner suggests that the best way to resolve your past and make up for your mistakes is through doing good. Through Rahim Khan’s wisdom, the actions of Baba, and the journey of Amir, Khaled Hosseini illustrates that the need for redemption, due to unresolved guilt, can haunt someone throughout their life.
“I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany but with pain gathering its things, packing up and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night” A quote literally simple enough and metaphorically capable enough to describe what should be concluded by the end of this thesis. Redemption can be achieved but only, when the need of forgiveness arises. Repentance is radically more than regret. Regret is a state in which one realizes his or her wrong doings but rather than doing something about it they drown themselves into negative contemplation. To repent is to take a vow to never repeat the action again.
Toohey. Toohey is to collectivism as Roark is to individualism. He places no value on the individual and complete value on the collective and is loved for it. Toohey the “perfect man” in the eyes of the people. He is exactly equal with everyone and he does not care for his own self.