As time passes I see myself disagree with the philosophy of Ayn Rand more and more, yet her work has challenged me to think and question my own philosphy of life. I am not a hard core objectivist and I am a little amazed at Actually how far hard-core objectivist go especial in Their challenge of modern physics and quantum mechanics. But this book is a great book is worth examination and questioning. The Fountain Heads characters are really amazing and interesting. Howard Roark the protagonist is a talented college drop out who struggles to become an architect. He refuses to design anything other than to his own design and will not be Influenced by the Whims of cleints or fads in style. His buildings are prefect in the book and Roark will pay out of pocket to fix his own mistake in his design. And he would rather see a building of his design destroyed than corrupted. Roark is driven by solving the problem of design not by fame or fortune. He is Contrasted by Peter Keating who unlike Roark always caves in to be popular opinon by catering to the Whims of clients and critics. While Roark is almost uneffected by people, Keating is totally dependent on others for his ideas, dreams and sense of self. Dominique frankon is Roark's lover who wants to see him destroyed and tries to destroy him herself. For she is tortured by the factthat everone gives in and Compromises Themselves. She tries to destroy Roark Because lake Believes That he can not hold out forever against the world and she would rather see him destroyed than live a subservient life. Gail Wylan is Roark's best friend. Wylan is a newspaper owner who is a tyrant over his empire. He tries at first to control Roark and fails Which is what starts there friendship. Wyland is forced to choose between public opinion and Roark in a court case. Wylan must choose bewteen power or intergity. Toohey is the devil in the form of a critic. He praises Those Who will give into society and attacks Those Who wants show independence and integrety in Their Work. He wants to destroy and replace it with a indiviualism dull mediocracy. He wants to control mens minds by making them dependent on his evaluation of the world. He is facinated by Roark while Roark has little fasinatition with him. Toohey knows That he must at all cost destroy Roark. As I have Said edge will make you think. But challenge her ideas in your own mind. THE PASSION OF Ayn Rand by Branden Barbera is an excellent biography for Those Who Love or hate Ayn Rand's views.
