“Whatever their future, at the dawn of their lives, men seek a noble vision of man’s nature and of life’s potential”-----Ayn Rand.
This is the essence of Ayn Rand’s novel; she explored this aspect in the most novel way. I was recommended “The Fountainhead” by a friend of mine, the first time I finished reading it, I was awake the whole night and it triggered a different thought process. This was the second time I read it, swallowed it, and lived the moments in it.
“The Fountainhead” is the story of architect Howard Roark, who believes that buildings are alive and have integrity woven around their idea, theme, purpose, and existence. He believes in following his own spirit, being a creator of his own buildings and being independent in his thinking. This is the story of a man who chartered his own roads and refused to tread on already known paths. This is story of his quest for creation of novelty and for every creator; this is his religion in his own buildings.
“The Fountainhead” is divided into four parts, actually four characters:
i) Peter Keating he’s the anti-thesis of man, exact opposite of what Howard Roark (HR) is, he’s a second-hander, a leach who sucks the blood and grows. He lives on the ideas of HR and leads a so-called successful life in front of the mob, made by the people.
ii) Ellsworth Toohey, a man who writes in the newspaper, called “The Banner” and moulds the public opinion by his writings; he attains prominence by glorifying the ideas of collectivism, of society made on sacrifices, as he knows that he can get recognition only under these situations, as he does not have any merit of his own. He seeks name and wants fame from the masses.
iii) Gail Wyand, a man who had the spirit to be a creator but he wanted to run things around, wanted power and control of the world, he rules the mob as long as he gives them what they like. He owned “The Banner.”
iv) HOWARD ROARK, a man who lives for himself, he is the “joy of living personified”, confident and knows what he wants, never regretted anything he has done, lives his life fully. A man who believes that mind is an attribute of an individual and there is nothing collective in the working of the brain. HE KNOWS. There is a time in the story when he explains himself to the judges and the audience in the witness stand and it remained………………
There is one more character that is important in “The Fountainhead”, DOMINIQUE FRANCON, she is the perfect woman for the perfect man like HOWARD ROARK. She loves him and hates the way the mob treats people like HR and so punishes herself to suffer by marrying an exact opposite of her own, Peter Keating as she cannot accept such world.
The story is not only novel in its conception and idea but also in its treatment. It is interesting to note the evolution of some characters and degradation of society in its fundamental behavior. What makes the story more remarkable are the vices that are accepted as virtues in the mob-dominated civilization. I did find it a bit over done when Ellsworth Toohey is observing his creations of so-called brilliance in the literature and theatre, but that seemed important in the overall presentation of her philosophy.
This book made me think more than I can ever realize, taught me more than I ever learnt. I see all sorts of people around me, with their novel views, borrowed views, but I have yet to come to know a person as perfect as HOWARD ROARK. I have seen parts of HR, but not whole of him, but I do believe that such people exist, such people have made the world what it is today, they are known as creators, visionaries. This is a book for all of us to understand the spirit of man.
I recommend “The Fountainhead” to all those who seek to harness the life’s potential to the fullest.