Topic:
For each of the following quotations, from The Fountainhead, explain its significance in the story, and their general implications.A.
A. Howard Roark to Henry Cameroon: "If at the end of my life, I’ll be what you are today,
here, in this office, I shall consider it an honour that I could not have deserved."B. "It’s sheer insanity!" Weidler moaned, "I want you. We want your building. You need the
commission. Do you have to be quite so fanatical and selfless about it?"....... Roark
smiled.... He said, "That was the most selfish thing you’ve ever seen a man do."C. Ellsworth Toohey: "Why don’t you tell me what you think of me?......." Howard Roark: "But
I don’t think of you."
Attracted by this fierce streak of independence, Roark chose to apprentice himself with Cameron. He saw in Cameron a kindered spirit clinging to his professional values and refusing to accept mediocrity in his creative work. Cameron tried to dissuade him, but Roark had made up his mind which ultimately made Cameron accept him as his protégé. After a month of working in his office, Cameron, struck by Roark's genius advised him again not to follow his path, but learn to compromise his artistic ideals so that he could survive in the real world.
At that point, Cameron opened his heart and made a honest admission to Roark, that like himself, Roark loved his work too much, to take such a rigid and uncompromising stand. Cameron asked Roark if his ultimate goal in life was to end up like him - unhonoured and unsung. Stung by Cameron's question, Roark retorted that it would be an honour if he could maintain his integrity, and individuality throughout his life as Cameron had. These lines confirm that Roak was not bothered about public opinion. According to Roark, success was as he visualised it and was not to be measured through other people's eyes. Cameron's ability to retain his creative genius in the face of the harsh treatment meted out to him by the public made him Roark's role model. The given words signify that Roark displayed clarity of purpose and defined his goals even at the early age of twenty two when he was yet to face the major portion of his life.
B.
The second quotation occurs at another major watershed of Howard Roark's
life. Roark's creative talent had already been recognised and he had worked
on the projects for which he had been selected putting in his entire heart
and soul. Buildings such as the Heller house and the Fargo store
stood as testimony to his commitment. But, material success eluded
him as he continued to turn down many job offers since the clients would
not let him work on his own terms. Just as he was running out of
money and reaching the end of his tether, Roark was approached to submit
drawings for the new building of the Metropolitan Bank Company.
When summoned by the Board of Directors, who wished to discuss the plans for the building, Roark was truly at a low in his career. Alter telling Roark that his plans had been approved, the Chairman of the Board went on to explain how the Board had made an "inconsequential" change to the buildings' appearance by adding a classical motif. The Chairman explained that though the Board was impressed Roark's design, they made this change to "give the public the impression of what they are accustomed to".
Roark replied calmly, but clearly, why "an honest building like an honest man, had to be of one piece and one faith.........". He went on to add that "if one smallest part created treason to that idea............ the thing or the creature was dead". Roark's morality is clearly defined by his refusal to change the design to win the Board's approval thereby losing the commission and choosing a life of relative obscurity rather than compromising his creativity.
At this stage, Mr. Weilder, a Board Member who was Roark's well-wisher, sprang up, questioning him as to how he could be so uncompromising and unmindful of his own needs as to give up this job at this critical juncture of his life rather than to accept the proposed minor changes. But Roark clarifies that his action was not at all selfless. Unlike other people who sell their soul to win approval in their fellow-men's eyes, Roark says that he gave up the commission because he respects his own values too much. Thus, he gives more importance to living life by his own standards which according to him is the 'most selfish thing you're ever seen a man do'. Roark here exemplifies the values that the author Ayn Rand placed on selfishness which she sees as a positive virtue that is responsible for the innovators and creators of the world.
C.
Third quotation is taken from another turning point in Howard Roark's
life after the trial of the Stoddard Temple. The Stoddard temple represents
Ellsworth Toohey's attempt to break Howard Roark's spirit and make him
conform to mass opinion.
The entire episode brings out the character of Ellsworth Toohey who
was the very anti-thesis of Howard Roark. Where Roark was a creator, Toohey
was a destroyer. He was outwardly selfless - as his entire life revolved
around other people whom he sought to control. He preached the idea
of collectivism, that the individual must sacrifice himself to the common
good. He openly declares later in the book that he aimed to quell
independent thinking as such people would not be amenable to his vicarious
control.
Toohey, in his characteristic style tried to tempt Roark by persuading Hopton Stoddard to give him the chance to build the Stoddard temple. Roark took up the commission in earnest and built it as a temple to the human spirit. When the building was finished, Toohey denounced Roark publicly and led Stoddard to believe that the building was a sacrilege - thus influencing Stoddard to sue Roark. Toohey also admitted to Dominique Francon that the entire objective of this exercise was to destroy Roark since such independent creative people threaten the existence, of characters like himself who thrive on the insecurity of mediocrity. In spite of Dominique's brilliant defence of Roark at the trial, Toohey's attempt succeeded and Roark was asked to pay damages for reconstruction of the Stoddard temple.
Though it was doubly difficult for a creator like Roark to lose the edifice that he created so painstakingly and see it destroyed before his eyes, Roark took the punishment stoically and went on with his life taking on routine remodelling jobs and never compromising his ideals.
Finally, he picked up courage to visit the reconstructed Stoddard temple where he found Toohey waiting for him. Toohey tried to elicit Roark's feelings on seeing the remodelled temple complete with Greek portico hoping to take pleasure in Roark's discomfiture. Failing in this task, Toohey finally asked Rorak what he thinks of him. This is typical of Toohey behaviour - seeing himself in other people's eyes. He is also as he suggested earlier to Dominique, trying to find out if Roark knows that Toohey is responsible for his downfall. For Toohey believes that he has succeeded in destroying Roark's individuality. However, Roark delivers the ultimate insult to Toohey by replying that he does not think about people like Ellsworth Toohey.
Roark sees through Toohey's facade and identifies him for the power-lusting,
'second-hander' that he is. He, therefore, treats him with the contempt
that he deserves. By saying these lines, Roark also conveys a message
that creators like him cannot be stopped or be harassed in any way by people
like Ellsworth Toohey.
Copyright 2000. Liberty Institute, New Delhi
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