The Fountainhead

3 Pages 801 Words

Ayn Rand – The Fountainhead

Standing naked on top of a cliff, Howard Roark envisions what the trees and granite around him can be made into. He is an architect, ingenious and creative. None of like any other at the Stanton Institute of Technology. He had been pondering about his life and the events of that morning. He had just been expelled by the dean for being creative and a nonconformist. This immediately ascertains the theme of the novel, and sets up the novel’s storyline.
Peter Keating, the complete opposite of Howard Roark, is the second character introduced. He is an over-achiever and a fraud. Keating is graduating with highest honors in his class and is receiving a scholarship to attend the Ecole des Beaux Arts, a prestigious art school in Paris.
Guy Francon, a nationally known architecture that owns “Francon & Heyer” with Lucius Heyer, offers Peter Keating a job. He is charmed by Peter Keating’s sociable personality and at his achievements at Stanton. Questioning whether to accept Francon’s offer or go to Paris and study abroad is puzzling Keating.
At home he sees Howard Roark just sitting on his porch. Keating is angered that Roark did not come watch him give his speech in front of Francon and the other students. Roark is saddened by Peter in the way he lives his life, for others and their approvals. He is dismayed that he does not do anything on his own terms. He asks for Roark’s advice on the situation and Roark tells him that he shouldn’t ask others to make decisions for him. Peter’s mother hears the entire conversation and is angered at Peter for not asking her. She cunningly persuades him to accept the job in New York with Francon & Heyer.
Peter Keating’s likable personality and his ability to gain people’s trust allows him to move up quickly in rank at Francon & Heyer. He schemes his way in obtaining the role of chief designer, by ridding the firm of Tim Davis. His next vict...