fountain head through quotes :: essays research papers

The Meaning of The Fountainhead Through Quotes   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Literature is often a key factor in understanding the meanings of certain philosophies. If philosophy were not explained to great extent in certain works of literature, man would have no means of understanding the crucial, insightful messages behind philosophy. One such philosophy, objectivism, is represented exceptionally in Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead. The compelling dialogue between the characters of the book allows one to uncover Ayn Rand’s own feelings towards objectivism. The connotations and the implications of several of the quotes within The Fountainhead accurately depict the essence of objectivism, as a way to live one’s life properly. They also encourage the opposition of convention through the telling of events that the novels main character, Howard Roark, goes through.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Howard Roark is a man who blazes his own path and listens only to himself. He feels success comes to those who achieve complete and utter independence from the world’s traditional principles. Howard also cares nothing of other’s opinions of himself. When he is expelled from school, he is not angry or sad; he simply feels he needs to discover a new way to venture into the career of architecture. He does not allow expulsion to ruin his hope of being an architect. Peter Keating, on the other hand, is a man with little independent thought. He was the top student of his class and was recognized by many professors as an outstanding student. However he has serious self esteem issues. In fact, Peter decided to go into architecture not because he has a passion for it but because it would gain him a socially respectable position. Keating believes that only by following set guidelines will he get ahead in life. In one dialogue, between the two characters, Keati ng is asking Roark for advice on what he should do with his life. Keating asks, â€Å"How do you always manage to decide?† Roark answers his colleague with a question of his own. â€Å"How can you let others decide for you?† Keating asks his question because he cannot comprehend how Howard can live his life not caring what others think of it, where as, Roark sees it as inconceivable that Peter could have such little self-assurance when it came to making his own decisions. In this regard, Roark is a better man that Keating. It also shows how Roark displays objectivism. Roark is unwilling to succumb to the norms values of society and he is able to think and reason for himself.