Book Report: The Fountainhead

Rand, Ayn. The Fountainhead. New York, New York. The Penguin Group: 1943.
Reason, Type, and Setting: The reason I chose to read this book, is because I had read one of her other works, Atlas Shrugged, several months ago, and it was nothing short of life changing. The Fountainhead is one of her earlier books, and I wanted to see how her ideas and skill as an author had developed. The story, as with Atlas Shrugged, mainly takes place in New York. However, unlike its spiritual successor, The Fountainhead is set in the time period it was written in, namely the early forties. Although both these books are fictional, it would be inaccurate to describe them as just fiction. Her novels have been described as part thriller, part romance, and part action-adventure, all bound together by a common philosophical message that is both elegant and practical.
Plot: Although the plot of The Fountainhead is set in the world of architecture, its lessons and morals can be applied to all aspects of life. The story is that of the independent, rational, and uncompromising individual against the unthinking, brutish, and immoral collective that surrounds him. The message of the book is one of hope, emphasizing the value of personal responsibility, independent thought, individuality, and logical thinking as the path to success and happiness. As these prerequisites are available to everyone, anyone can improve themselves and accomplish their goals, while simultaneously enriching the lives of those around them. As Rand said: “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute.”
Character: The protagonist in The Fountainhead is Howard Roark, an architect. He is described as a tall, imposing man, crowned with fiery red hair. Roark is the epitomization of Rand’s idea of the ideal man. When faced with adversity and animosity on all sides, crippled by his irrational and immoral peers and an unthinking society, he never once even contemplates compromising or capitulating. Intensely logical and independent, the whole world could be set against him and he would not yield as long as he believed that his goals and beliefs were rational. Capable of creating the concrete and stone odes to man’s greatness and achievements known as skyscrapers, Roark represents the best of all men, the embodiment of human virtue; it is for men like this that our country was created. His perfection and incorruptible goodness is what makes him stand out from the throngs of imperfect, self-pitying, and unscrupulous protagonists that have proliferated the pages of modern novels. These ubiquitous “anti-heroes” seem to appeal to readers today because they anesthetize the reader’s own sense of shame for their own shortcomings and failures. They are hailed as “realistic” characters, while those like Roark are scoffed at, as they are deemed to unrealistic for readers to empathize with. However, the mere presence of the modern marvels that surround us are a testament to their existence, and this is why I was drawn to Roark. Like many of Rand’s other “ideal men” the plot of the story has no affect on Roark. It is he who changes those around them, leading by example, and condemning the immoral lifestyles of his peers not through words, but through success.
Evaluation: I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I found it captivating and inspiring, managing to entertain as well as teach. The message the author is trying to convey is one of the importance of being guided by logic, and nothing else. Everything else in her philosophy rests on that cornerstone. Once it is in place, individuality, self motivation, and success follow. By sparing the reader the theorizing and speculating about traditional philosophical questions, and skipping straight to the practical applications of her creed, Rand demonstrates the usefulness and practicality of her philosophy. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone seeking direction in their life, a deeper understanding of themselves, their country and the world around them, or really anyone with an interest in anything, political, philosophical, or moral. I cannot understate the value of this book or any other book by Mrs. Rand. Their message is applicable to everything, be it economics, politics, love, education, or art.
Although there are some similarities between myself and the main character of The Fountainhead, I would have made several different choices than the ones he makes in the book. I believe that Roark is irrationally confrontational and abrasive to others at some points, causing people who would have been indifferent to him to begin seeking his destruction. This complicates matters for Roark, and is a problem that could have been avoided without compromising on his positions in any way.
Author and Trivia: As I said earlier, The Fountainhead was a precursor to Rand’s masterpiece, Atlas Shrugged, which was followed by other books that were primarily philosophical in nature. The Fountainhead was preceded by Anthem and We the Living. Rand, originally from Russia, was still mastering the English language when she wrote some of her earlier works, and it is astounding to behold the mastery with which she wields the tongue of her adopted nation. Having read both The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged now, I will move on to some of the author’s more philosophical works, like Philosophy: Who Needs It?, which is a collection of essays about her ideas.