The book deals with the struggle of a ‘want to be great’ architect ‘Howard Roark’, a person who stops at nothing less than giving his best. By the means of this character the author gives and insight into her then (1950’s) radical philosophy of objectivism which emphasises on the use of logic and urges a man to reach the height of his capability.
The story starts with the parallel paths of two characters ‘Howard Roark and Peter Keating’, the first who lives to be great by the means of his virtue; the other who wants to steal greatness by using other’s virtues.
The egotism that the author emphasises is different form the egotism what we conceive. The book depicts the struggle of the society to destroy the spirit of the man who would not accept defeat and the struggle of the man to show the society that the path it is following would lead to destruction.
The unbreakable will of ‘Howard Roark’ for his ultimate objective, ‘to be able to make money on a free and fair exchange basis’, gives a lot of insight of the authors philosophy. As such the book is very moving but at some periods it feels a bit stretched. But the philosophy of the author stands apart, with its full charisma and influence.
The book leaves you with a numb feeling of where the world is heading and where a individual person’s will can lead him. It is in fact a warning against compromising against the dreams. Though such a world as to what author wishes for, seems impossible but yet that’s what you will be wishing for in the end