Howard Roark In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

Morals are defined many ways, by many different people. The denotation is a person’s standards of beliefs as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary. Morals are displayed in The Fountainhead as something much more personal. Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead, has given a direct display of her idea of a morally perfect character. This character, Howard Roark, has many admirable qualities and many qualities that are seen lacking. Ayn Rand’s reasoning behind Roark’s character and an analyzation of said character are complex discussions with many different views. Rand describes Roark as the morally ideal person. I believe she does this because Roark is demonstrated as never compromising his beliefs for money, women, or other worldly luxuries. He continues to do his work to the best of his ability in his own style. There are few parts in the book where Roark does compromise slightly, by drawing the skeleton of the buildings and then giving them to Keating to embellish. Even by taking a job with Snyte and drawing a small part of the ‘modern’ building. Yet, after he does this he always feels as though his building was made into a disgusting display to a point where he can barely look at it. Morals, as discussed in the opening paragraph, are defined as beliefs that one does not back down from. They set their own standards. Roark would have rather worked in construction, than making false
masterpieces. To Rand, this seems to be the pinnacle of moral beliefs. The want, the need, to never compromise one’s own work for societal views and to never back down even with all the rewards of the world being offered. This is a lofty expectation, almost seen, as also demonstrated in the story, as inhuman. There are perhaps many reasons as to why Rand believes this to be the pique of moral ambiguity. Perhaps it is the unwavering, stoic belief Roark has in his standards. In today’s age people are easily swayed and changed. Society has become fickle to spur of the moment decisions and giving in to the slightest pressure. Roark represents a steadfast wall of uncorrupted morals. He sets his standards and holds to them. Rand, I believe, thinks this shows a perfect combination of setting a standard and not bowing to others’ whims. An example shown in the story is when Francon hires Roark. Roark works quietly for a while, but soon Francon is making requests of him that go against what he believes is a true building. Roark, despite the monetary and social gains he could make, refuses and in fact is fired for his beliefs. Rand shows the hardships of ‘sticking to your guns’ and the toll it can take on one’s life. In her writings it is evident she believes this is the best way to express and live by chosen morals. Roark shows many different moral traits and all of them affect his life. Some, I believe are acceptable to live by, but others may be seen as something inhuman and unrealistic. To begin with the positive, I believe that emulating Roark’s ability to stay true to his designs and standards should be emulated and praised more in today’s life. As stated in previous paragraphs, today’s society merely takes what it is fed and is so easily changed, it is almost as though no one truly holds their own opinion anymore. It is always that they heard this or that on some social media platform and that it must be the popular truth. It is seen in The Fountainhead when Roark erects a building. For a while, everyone begins to hesitantly say that it has potential, but as soon as a bigger fish, such as Ellsworth Tooley, says that it is gross in comparison, their opinion changes. It is a fear of being singled out. It is a fear in today’s society that having a different opinion would lead to an outcast position. Roark, however, breaks that stigma. Despite being labeled an outcast, Roark does not bend. He continues to do his work and refuses to even so much as compromise. I believe that we have lost that in our world today and that we need to get it back. Why live in a world full of copies when being original is so much more fulfilling? I believe a lot more people would have that feeling of fulfillment if they stayed true to themselves. Despite this good quality, every coin has another side. In order to maintain his standards, Roark must not care emotionally for those who do not agree with him. In the story he sacrifices friends, family, even love to live up to his morals. This is where the inhuman part coincides with his actions. It is exceedingly difficult to remove people from life. When so much feeling is invested in a person, merely severing the ties is comparable to having to use simple scissors to cut a sheet of steel. It is hard and there is the chance of being hurt. Roark, however, demonstrates and almost unemotional side in leaving everyone behind for his morals. I believe that this should not happen. Life is about so much more than the standards one lives by. They are important and they should be upheld, but what is the point of making it to the quiqe of morality if there is no one to make the climb with? Everyone has someone they love, someone they would give anything for. The world is so full of hate and to continue to leave people behind for a goal set for yourself, that will only bring more hatred and sadness. Morals are important. Goals are important, but so are people. People are what inspires these goals, they are what inspires the morals. If one cuts them out of their life what is the point anymore? Its effects are seen most dramatically on Dominique Francon, Roark’s love interest. She is so often left behind by him that in reading her thoughts, the trauma is evident. Her hardly being able to look at him, think about him, to even speak about him. This boundary presented to her out of rejection, of being told that his morals on architecture are more important to him than her, they are what drew her in and pushed her away at the same time. Roark displays equal amounts of positive and negative traits that each have their own unique effect. A positive one of setting a standard and sticking to it and a negative one of cutting everyone out on his way to that standard. Both affect him in his life and it is truly to the reader’s interpretation of whether they are worth the consequences or not. The Fountainhead provides many moral discussions and beliefs.
Ayn Rand places the main character as the head of moral ambiguity and it is demonstrated in her writings of him. To the other characters he represents their guilt and corruption and how he refuses to fall to their level. In doing so, he demonstrates qualities that are admirable in society and qualities that are less admirable. It truly is for the reader to decide. Morals are for no one person to decide upon, they are individual choices that shape our lives. It is for the own individual to decide the shape they
want.