The Fountainhead Character Analysis- Ayn Rand

1. The Fountainhead
Rand, Ayn
Presented by Essence Perry

2. Synopsis: Part 1
Keating graduates the top of his class and he works at a “high end” architecture firm
where he realizes he has no talent and he is merely a puppet of Toohey and society.
Roark, on the other hand works at a Henry Cameron’s office where his talent
flourishes but he isn’t respected by the community. Toohey manipulates people to
amass power and he completely control Keating, together Dominique and him get
Keating commissions despite knowing he is a fraud. Dominique marries Keating to
torture herself and to destroy Roark, Keating then trades his marriage for a
building. Dominique then marries Wynand, and their connection is unique, she
ultimately leaves him because he sensationalized Roark in the end to save himself.

3. Synopsis: Part 2
Roark maintains he artistic integrity and is fulfilled romantically and
professionally. Roark shadow designs a building for Keating because his career
was failing and it is beyond his depth-- on the condition the design wasn’t
changed. Keating is not able to keep the building the same causing Roarj to blow
it up and be put on trial--legally and publically.Toohey Wynand and Roark
become close friends, despite his marriage to Dominique, and he defends Roark
against the rage of the public--even at the expense of his newspaper. Dominique
and Roark reunite and finally marry, she even helps him blow up a building, even
though she wasn’t necessary to the plan.

4. Ayn Rand
➢ Raised in a totalitarian and dictatorial regime- Soviet Union
○ She wrote The Fountainhead to express her ardent beliefs in
personal freedoms and the rights of an individual.
➢ The novel is a gift to creative freethinkers.
○ From the idea of collectivism v. individualism, are you going to
think for yourself or will you let someone tell you what to do?
➢ She has also written We the Living , Anthem, Red Pawn, Atlas
Shrugged, along with a number of philosophical papers.

5. Ayn Rand
“The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to
stop me.”
“A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the
desire to beat others.”
“I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for
the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.”
“Wealth is the product of man's capacity to think.”
“The smallest minority on earth is the individual. Those who
deny individual rights cannot claim to be defenders of
minorities.”

6. Objectivism: “a Philosophy for Living on Earth”
➢ Reality is objective
○ Altruism is evil.
○ The universe is what it is, no matter what you wish.
○ God is not real, reality has nothing to transcend it.
➢ Reason is all you have and need.
○ Reason is absolute, you cannot accept contradictions.
○ Face the facts-- ALWAYS.
○ Our basic choice in life is to think or not to think, it is not automatic.
○ Reject faith, higher powers, emotions, or authoritarians as guides for life.

7. Objectivism: “a Philosophy for Living on Earth”
➢ Self-Interest is your highest moral pursuit, seek what you want.
○ You don’t exploit others for your own gain. Respect others right to
happiness and their own life.
○ Realize your highest potential by creating rational goals.
○ It is moral to seek your own happiness, it is not moral to serve God,
family, or others over yourself.
➢ Capitalism is a system of individual rights, “give me liberty or give me death”
○ Laissez Faire economic system,, more open markets than capitalism.
○ Complete separation of state and economics like state and religion.

8. Major Characters:
➢Howard Roark
➢Peter Keating
➢Dominique Francon
➢Ellsworth Toohey
➢Gail Wynand

9. Minor Characters:
➢Catherine Halsey
➢Guy Francon
➢Henry Cameron
➢Stephen Mallory
➢Mike Donnigan
➢Austen Heller

10. Howard Roark
Roark is the protagonist of the novel and the
epitome of Rand’s Objectivism. He is a rugged
individual that creates buildings that don’t
conform to the expectations of society--nothing
about him does. Everything he does exudes
passion and ingenuity, from his love for
Dominique to the buildings he produces. His
character is so complex it leaves many either
loving his character or hating it. Gary Cooper playing Howard
Roark (1949)

11. Peter Keating
Keating is a pawn of society, but he selfish
and schmoozes his way through life.
Roark isn’t the antagonist, per say, but he
married someone for status, forced a man
to have a stroke, and testified against
Roark twice, a man who shadow designed
his buildings. He lets everyone control his
actions, often leaving him powerless. Peter Keating played by Kent Smith (1949)

12. Dominique Francon
Dominique is one of the most elusive
characters in literary history. She has a
steely exterior, but she is really a
passionate idealist and pessimist. She
yearns for talent and human ingenuity
but she doesn’t want any attachments to
the world. Roark broke through her
guarded Dominique Francon played by
Patricia Neal (1949)

13. Ellsworth Toohey
Toohey is the antagonist of the novel, he seeks to
control the minds of people and gain prestige.
He hides his intentions under the guise of
humanitarianism, but in reality he wants to
create a collective regime of unwavering followers
that follow his every command. Toohey seeks to
destroy men like Roark and Wynand because
they will pose as threats to his future regime.
Ellsworth Toohey played by
Robert Douglass (1949)

14. Gail Wynand
Wynand is the producer of a major tabloid
magazine, he obtains his wealth and
prestige by exploiting the public’s need for
gossip and sensationalism. Unlike
Keating, he maintains integrity and
independence in his personal life, despite
him relying so much on society and public
opinion for his career.
Gail Wynand played by Raymond
Massey (1949)

15. Main Themes (there are many more)
➢Love
➢World views
➢Happiness

16. Love
Dominique and Roark have a unique
relationship. They passionately love each
other but they force themselves to remain
apart to allow each other to thrive.
Dominique wants to destroy Roark so
society doesn’t and so he doesn’t have to
compromise her beliefs, even if it comes at
the cost of her happiness.

17. World Views
Dominique- She is idealistic about talent
and ingenuity but she doesn’t want any
attachments to the world.
Roark- He does anything he wishes, even if
it is against the grain or looked down upon.
Toohey- He believes the masses should be
controlled and their free will taken away--
everyone should have one leader.

18. Happiness
Roark- He achieves happiness by creating
buildings that exude his creative ingenuity
without compromising his ideals and technique.
Toohey- He hopes to rule the world through
controlling the mind’s of the masses and making
men mediocre.
Dominique- She achieves true happiness, she
finally stops torturing herself and she lets herself
fall in love with Roark.

19. Thank You
Gary Cooper- Howard Roark
Patricia Neal- Dominique Francon
Raymond Massey- Gail Wynand
Robert Douglas- Ellsworth Toohey
Kent Smith- Peter Keatin
Images from The Fountainhead (1949) film.