The Fountainhead

From ArticleWorld

The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel written by Ayn Rand. It was this quote by Rand Man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress which was the basis for the books title. The architectural theme in the novel is an analogy for Rand’s ideas. Roark, hero of the novel is seen through Rand’s Objectivist ideals.

Characters

The story is split into four sections. Rand names each section after a particular character. The chapters reveal the character’s true natures. There are five major characters represented.

1. Howard Roark, who is suppose to represents Rand’s idea of the perfect man.
2. Dominique Francon, who becomes Roark’s mistress and must learn to deal with her fear of society. Francon is the heroine of the novel.
3. Gail Wynand, is a powerful newspaper mogul who falls short of his own ideals.
4. Peter Keating, an architect, is a man who achieves some success but at a cost to himself.
5. Ellsworth Toohey, is the architectural critic and the complete antithesis of Roark, who destroys other people by using guilt and altruism.

Synopsis

• The story opens with Howard Roark and Peter Keating attending the same esteemed architectural school. Keating manages to graduate at the tope of his class while Roark is expelled from the school.

• After graduation Keating becomes a partner in Guy Francon, Dominique’s father, firm. Roark goes to work for Henry Cameron, a formerly successful architect. When Cameron dies Roark opens his own firm. After his firm collapses he gets a job working at a granite quarry. Dominique Francon father owns the quarry.

• Dominique Francon meets Roark. She invites him into her house and Roark rapes her. Rand says that, its rape by engraved invitation. Roark returns to New York after receiving an important commission.

• Keating falls in love with one woman, but is convinced by his mother to marry Dominique Francon.

• Ellsworth Toohey helps Roark get a commission because he has a plan to destroy him. After the building is built Toohey convinces Roark’s client that the work Roark did was poorly done. The client sues Roark for damages. Roark refuses to mount a defense.
• Toohney sets it up so Dominique and Gail Wynand meet. Wynand falls in love with her and they marry. Roark meets Wynand and they become friends.

• Roark helps Keating with a design for a major housing project. When Peter Keating alters Roark design, even though he promised he would not, Roark blows up the building with Dominique help.

• Roark stands trial for the crime. Wynand uses his paper to defend Roark. Toohney uses his influence to try to ruin Wynand’s paper. Wynand cave’s to popular opinion and sides against Roark. Dominique leaves Wynand.

• Roark defends himself at his trial and is acquitted. Roark and Dominique marry. Wynand commissions Roark to build a skyscraper.

Themes

• Peter Keating practices in eclectic/neo-classical/historical mold. He mirrors the eclectic tastes and the willingness of the general public to adapt at the turn of the twentieth century.

• Roark mirror the trajectory of Modern Architecture, which emphasizes the dislike of the historical mold and individual creativity.