Fountain Head essays

Fountain Head essays Essay in response to question number Two and Six Ayn Rand wrote The Fountainhead to impart her impassioned philosophy of Objectivism, a belief that advocates political freedom and the rights of the individual. To present her philosophy, Ayn Rand create Howard Roark, a distinctive Ayn Rand hero, and his foil Peter Keating. Howard Roark is an innovative architect whose brilliant and revolutionary designs are rejected by people who are dogmatic and fearful of change. Yet, he does not surrender his beliefs, but encounter all hardships with commitment to his own judgment and his integrity. On the other hand, Peter Keating is a conformist who abandons his integrity and allows other people to dominate his life. Through this acute contrast between Roark and Keating, and Roark's triumphant victory at the end, Ayn Rand clearly presents her philosophy of Objectivism. From the beginning of the novel, Ayn Rand insinuates the antithesis of the characteristics of Roark and Keating through an ironic event; Roark is expelled on the same day that Peter graduates from Stanton with high honor. That same day, when Dean of the Stanton Institute of Technology tries to persuade Roark to give up his radical ideas and go along with the traditional designs, the essence of Roark's character is revealed as he states, "...... But the best is a matter of standards - and I set my own standards. I inherit nothing. I stand at the end of no tradition. I may, perhaps, stand at the beginning of one (Pg 24 - 25)." Moreover, his incontrovertible individuality reaches more than just architecture. Howard Roark is self centered, self generated, self sufficient, and self motivated about all issues of life. For example, when he was asked if he had any relatives, he said indifferently: " I don't think I have any relatives. I may have. I don't know (Pg25)." Howard Roa rk is so independent that he does not eve ...