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The Fountainhead Essay Contest | Results 2000 | Contest Report 2000

The Fountainhead Essay Competition 2000

For High School Students in India

Second Prize of Rs 2000/-

Prithika Nair, Kendriya Vidyalaya (MEG & Centre), Bangalore

Topic: Identify any two characters from The Fountainhead with whom you relate the most, and give reasons for your choice.
 

CHARACTERS AND REASON FOR EMPATHY

The Fountainhead is a work of art in which the characters themselves lead one into an endless journey of thought which slips imperceptively in and out of introspection. In this respect it more than fulfils Ayn Rand's test of a book, that is the pleasure of contemplating these characters is an end in itself.

PETER KEATING

Peter Keating is an architect. In the course of the book he graduates at the top of his class from an architectural college - Stanton. By way of on campus recruitment he is employed by the firm Francon & Meyers. Throughout his life he remains in this firm building his career. Keating commits treachery, deceit and even murder in order to reach the top of the firm.

We are introduced to his character when he is experiencing one of the most glorious moments in his life - his graduation. A curly haired, good looking, young man participating in a hollow celebration. The happiness he experiences springs from his triumph over his adversaries and hence is no triumph but an acknowledgement of bondage. His inability to decide the course of his own life soon becomes apparent as his manipulative, self righteous mother makes his decisions for him. Thus he moves to New York to join the firm. Peter Keating does not love his work; instead he loves fame and admiration and so arises the fundamental difference which decides his ability to experience happiness in his lifetime. This is the difference between choosing your work and choosing a career.

However due to skills taught to him by his mother (manipulation), he does enjoy initial success. Eventually the tides turn and he goes out of vogue. That fickle monster called the public upon which he fed like a parasite, moves away, leaving him floundering to realize too late his emptiness.

When the irreplaceable chance of bye comes his way, he fails to recognize it or the nature of the happiness he experiences in the company of Katie, So instead of marrying her, he yields to that indefinite postponement which has proved fatal for countless dreams and desires since time immemorial. His character inspires nothing but contempt, an emotion which changes only once to pity when he is in the midst of what one might term a midlife crisis. The book mentions these trips he starts taking to the countryside, where he sits in a make shift shack and tries to paint. This pathetic, almost unconscious attempt to ignite sparks which had died a long time ago comes too late because Peter Keatings betrayed soul had already died.

Peter Keating is the worst my life might become. His example as a successful mediocrity stands as an ominous warning to us. As a student about to leave school this is the time when I must choose my path. If I postpone the time of decision making, if I choose with only commercial viability in mind, if I accept the superior age and experience of others as qualification to take my decisions for me, if I allow fear and trepidation to govern me, if I give up my calling and relegate it to a hobby worthy of only spare time instead of allowing it to grow and fill my senses at every working moment, if I ignore my soul at any time, happiness will be lost to me and Peter Keating.

HOWARD ROARK

Howard Roark. Architect. Through out the story he and his career oscillate between obscurity, fame and notoriety. After being expelled from Stanton he goes to New York to work for Henry Cameron. When Cameron retires, Roark tries to work independently, for a few inconsequential firms, at a granite quarry and finally goes back to working independently.

The book begins with him indulging in a glorious celebration of life on the day of his expulsion. A tall, wiry, orange haired beautiful human revelling in his senses. Beauty is used here in its true essence and not pertaining to the possession of attractive features. His only thought of the expulsion is surprise that he had not dropped out earlier. He goes to work for Cameron because his building designs are based on the same logic which Roark believes in with extensive use of space and sunlight. Howard Roark truly loves his work. Architecture is his obsession and through it he gives expression to his religion. He is a deeply religious man in that he worships value and perfection and ignores all except the highest and the best. He is happy not in terms of bubbling laughter and joy but he is happy deep down in his bones. This is because he remains true to his soul. People like Peter Keating try to hurt him with pity, others such as Ellsworth Toohey by destroying his career and creations. Yet they succeed only till a point beyond which he exists in a world they can never reach almost the way his skyscrapers in described as rising far above the city. People are both attracted and repelled by his untainted creativity.

When Dominique Francon enters his life he recognizes and surrenders to the love and passion he feels for her. His love is violent and calm all at once; violent because of the sheer magnitude of his emotions and calm because of his lack of doubts and quiet beliefs in his love. Howard Roark is a person who has learnt to trust himself and his feelings.

Every quality of his springs from this arrogant belief in himself. His ruthless dedication to truth, his indifference and innocence of hatred and lastly his purity. This attitude of wanting 'everything or nothing', that is, his inability to compromise gives rise to a pure soul.

Howard Roark is the best my life can become. His untainted energy seems unrealistic, yet the essence he embodies reaches out to something inside each one of us. Ayn Rand explains it as being the "View with which - in various degrees of longing, lustfulness, passion and agonized confusion - the best of mankinds youth start out in life. It is not even a view for most, but a foggy, groping undefined sense made of raw pain and incommunicable happiness. It is a sense of enormous expectation, the sense that one's life is important, that great achievements are within one's capacity, and that great things lie ahead".

Thus he is a conformation of the spirit of youth. If I can learn to live life like he does where every day is a renaissance, every moment is alive and vital, deep connection will help me navigate this world - and my soul shall triumph in freedom.
 

Copyright 2000. Liberty Institute, New Delhi

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