The Fountainhead

Article written by Charles Asoluka

Degree in Computer Engineering. Passed TOEFL Exam. Seasoned literary critic.

Ayn Rand, a Russian-American writer, achieved her first significant literary breakthrough with her 1943 book ‘The Fountainhead.’ The book’s protagonist, Howard Roark, is a young, uncompromising architect who fights against social norms and won’t give in to pressure from an institution that isn’t open to new ideas. Rand’s opinion that individuality is superior to collectivism is reflected in Roark’s struggle, which he saw as embodying the ideal man.

The people Roark refers to as “second-handers” prioritize uniformity over individuality and morality. Among them is Peter Keating, a former classmate of Roark’s who achieves success by adopting popular styles but consults Roark for advice on design issues. Roark’s career is targeted for destruction by socialist architecture critic Ellsworth Toohey, who utilizes his power to further his political and social goals.

Key Facts about The Fountainhead

• Book Name: ‘The Fountainhead’.
• Author: Ayn Rand.
• Genre: Fiction.
• Publication Date: 1943.
• Number of pages: 753.
• Tense: ‘The Fountainhead’ was written in the past tense.
• Perspective/Narration: Third-person omniscient point of view.
• Protagonist: Howard Roarke.
• Antagonist: Ellsworth Toohey.

Ayn Rand and The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand was a Russian emigre, who was a philosopher and a writer, best known for her work, ‘The Fountainhead’ which was published in 1943. The protagonist of her first major hit, which embodies Ayn Rand’s theories on the individual’s struggle against society, is an architect. The book rejects empathy and sympathy and supports using violence as a tool, just like any other—neither good nor bad, but occasionally required. The core of her philosophy, which she named “Objectivism,” 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.” She developed the concepts she had explored in her fiction. Through her talks at universities and writings in Objectivist magazines, she carried on elucidating and developing Objectivist principles. She passed away from heart failure at her New York City home in 1982.

Books Related to The Fountainhead

If you enjoyed ‘The Fountainhead,’ these books will appeal to you in style and tone.

• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a profoundly significant work of world literature that presents a disturbing picture of an unequal, technologically advanced future in which people are drugged, socially indoctrinated, and genetically bred to passively uphold an authoritarian ruling order—all at the expense of our freedom, our humanity, and possibly even our souls.
• Burned Out by Dean Mafako tells the story of Eric Philson, who came to the Children’s Hospital of Biloxi with the goal of building the cardiac intensive care unit from the ground up. The doctor has to deal with the crippling aftermath of a hurricane, a lack of vital personnel and supplies, and a cardiac surgeon who is unwilling to adapt. Until his work starts to negatively impact his personal life, wife, and health, Dr. Philson is willing to go above and beyond to help enhance the care provided to children.
• Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand by Leonard Peikoff is based on his lecture series “The Philosophy of Objectivism.” It is a classic text on the abstract concepts and real-world applications of Objectivism. Regarding these lectures, Ayn Rand stated: “Dr. Peikoff’s course is the only authorized presentation of the entire theoretical structure of Objectivism—that is, the only one that I know of my knowledge to be fully accurate—until or unless I write a comprehensive treatise on my philosophy.”

Lasting Impact of The Fountainhead