| The
Fountainhead Essay Contest |
| for
students of high schools and junior colleges in
India |
| 2000
Second Prize Winner: Sanjeev Vaidyanathan |
|
|
|
Sanjeev
Vaidyanathan, Padma
Seshadri Bala Bhavan Senior Secondary School, Chennai (Madras),
India
A.
Howard Roark, the hero of The Fountainhead, is portrayed
by Ayn Rand as a brilliant architect who refused to let
public opinion thwart his innovative genius. After bring
expelled from the Stanton Architectural School for refusing
to conform to conventional ideas, Roark was determined to
realise his architectural dream by working under Henry Cameron.
Henry Cameron, an architect whose attitudes closely mirrored
Roark's own had been a famous architect once, but was now
leading a reclusive and alcoholic life since he refused
to compromise his beliefs. Like Roark, Cameron believed
that "no building must copy the other ……. The form of a
building must follow its function". He "wished to build
as he wished and for that reason only". With the advent
of classicism, the public could not accept his individualistic
ideas and he had become an alcoholic, with hardly any commissions
to sustain his existence.
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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