The Fountainhead? what's that:)

So--some of you have asked me why I love "The Fountainhead" and my simple answer would be that it peaked my curiosity. Below is an extremely unedited * i can't locate the final copy @ the moment* version of an essay I wrote last year in answer to this question. If you can struggle through the passive voice and nonsensical sentances--maybe you'll decide to read it.

**Topic #1**
1. Explain the relationship between Peter Keating and Ellsworth Toohey. Does either character need the other? If so, in what way(s)? How does their relationship differ from that between Howard Roark and his friends. How do these issues relate to the theme of The Fountainhead?


Self Sufficiency vs. Public Opinion
By Holly Birdsong

The universe contains two types of people, those who depend on others and those who are depended upon. This reveals individuals’ personality and philosophy. In unique sequences of events, the characters in The Fountainhead exude certain characteristics which subsequently place them in one of two categories. A major theme of the book centers on the “ideal man.” Ayn Rand shaped Howard Roark as the ideal man and placed him in a social setting of confused and needy people. His attributes of confidence and high self-esteem form what Ayn Rand believes to be the “ideal man.” In contrast, Rand portrayed Peter Keating as a needy, puppeteered man who relies on his co-workers and fellow architects. Another noteworthy personality, Ellsworth Toohey, radiates control and power, but unconsciously reveals his desire to be independent and self-sufficient which causes conflict in multiple relationships.

The source of reality for Peter Keating lies in the expressed emotions and opinions of his peers. Deftly, Keating portrays the average man. Searching for perfection and success, he finds none. For Keating’s life represents a blank slate, waiting to be written on. Which friends might sketch their vision upon it? Because he is so insecure, Keating permits his mother to choose his friends, his job and even his wife. Keating thoroughly limits himself by remaining to live in her home throughout middle age. Allowing others to manipulate his actions, Peter Keating measures his success by the comments of others.

Complicated in nature, Ellsworth finds his high intelligence occasionally burdensome. Superficially independent, Ellsworth reveals dependence in daily life. Aiming to control others, he obtains happiness from wielding success and failure through writing. One example occurs when Ellsworth derails Steven Mallory’s budding career. Brilliant architects such as Steven Mallory are unable to find clients because Ellsworth decided that they were too independent and wrote needlessly critical articles about his work. Analytical in personality, Ellsworth understands the traits of the ideal man. Realizing that he does not possess the potential to become the “ideal man,” he pursues a goal to distort true “ideal men.” Encouraging moral values of submission and self sacrifice, the philosophy of collectivism-every man for every man- contrast directly with Roark’s individualism, “every man for himself” philosophy.

Howard Roark is portrayed as the “ideal man.” He develops his sense of satisfaction in his work not from his peers but from himself. He is not compelled to manage others and their ideas as Ellsworth is, but rather keeps his opinions to himself unless asked for a specific purpose. He is secure in his reason because he does not allow his reasoning to become tainted or polluted by the ideas and opinions of others. He is entirely self-sufficient. He helped Peter Keating become successful in the eyes of the public, by allowing Keating to use his architectural blueprints, and attaching his own name to them.

Peter Keating needs Ellsworth Toohey. Primarily, Ellsworth provides him with emotional security. Equally helpful, Ellsworth grants professional advantages. As a famous writer and critic, a befriended Toohey promotes Keating to coveted success through glowing and complimentary articles which describe him as one of the greatest architects in the world. After a growing success, Peter becomes content. However, his happiness does not last. In predestined fashion, rejection met up with Keating as the result of manipulated, mindless credit given to him. Again, as a last resort, Peter relies on Howard Roark to design a building for him to rebuild his reputation. As this co-dependant relationship evolves, Howard designs buildings for Peter again. Peter needs Howard to salvage his reputation and provide him with public success. Toohey for reasons of his own, complies.

Ellsworth Toohey defines dependence. In diction, Toohey does not need Howard Roark, but rather the traits that Roark possesses. Knowing that he cannot be an independent man, he does everything in his power to destroy the independent and successful men of the world. After Howard destroyed Ellsworth’s brain child, the Cortlandt project, Ellsworth created public outrage against Toohey and searched for evidence to take him to court. Ellsworth Toohey will do anything within his power to denounce and destroy the independent men. Peter Keating allows Ellsworth to obtain his goals of control and dominance.

The two major themes of the characters of this novel are collectivism and individualism. Howard Roark and his friends, Gail Wynad, Dominique Francon, and Steven Mallory adhere to the philosophy of individualism. Individualism defies social input and critique. The independent individual aims to find success by his own standards and means. Peter Keating and Ellsworth Toohey adhere to collectivism. They find their success and power through achieving appreciation and encouragement from others. When compared, individualism represents the independent man and collectivism represents the dependant man. The Fountainhead displays a city in which characters of both philosophical perspectives intermingle and merge to demonstrate reactions to many creative situations.