Critical Essays on Ayn Rand’s the Fountainhead

Emre Gurgen

Description

This book of critical essays on Ayn Rand’s novel the Fountainhead explores three topics: how the book is a great American novel; how Howard Roark revitalizes different characters in the book by being a first-hander; and how the novel elevates individualism and capitalism over collectivism and communism.

Sujets

• Literary Criticism
• Philosophie et théologie
• Objectivism
• Philosophy
• The Fountainhead
• Ayn Rand

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 15 août 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665566872
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

CRITICAL ESSAYS ON AYN RAND’S THE FOUNTAINHEAD

EMRE GURGEN


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© 2022 Emre Gurgen. All rights reserved.
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.
 
Published by AuthorHouse 08/12/2022
 
ISBN: 978-1-6655-6688-9 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-6689-6 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6655-6687-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022914051
 
 
 
 
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CONTENTS
Introduction
Essay 1Ho w The Fountainhead Expresses America’s Founding V alues
References
Essay 2Roark the Lifegiver: How Howard Brings Out the Best in Like-Minded O thers
References
Essay 3Individualism & Capitalism Versus Collectivism & Communism in Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead
References






































INTRODUCTION
I wrote this Fountainhead essay book for students of Objectivism , fans of Ayn Rand, or simply for people who are interested in pondering the novel’s unorthodox ideas. As such, this essay book shows readers 3 things: how the Fountainhead expresses American values and what this means for characters who embrace first-handed principles; how the novel elevates principles of capitalism and individualism over the ideology of collectivism and communism and how this shapes civilization; and, finally, how Howard Roark, the book’s hero-protagonist, energizes a variety of characters in the novel by living out who he is.
To help people understand the novel better, I also published a Fountainhead Reference Guide, about a year ago, which is a companion to both the Fountainhead and this essay book. A sample of this study guide, and links to it, can be found on my personal author website: www.aynrandanalyzed.com .
ESSAY 1
Ho w The Fountainhead Expresses America’s Founding Values
The Fountainhead is the greatest American novel of all time : since it links the creative spirit of Americans to the progress of human civilization. The book does this by showing readers that “human beings [advance] because of the efforts of people who are not second handers” (Den Uyl, 66). Creators, innovators, and discovers, who move society forward—who fuel the engine of progress—because “they follow their own ideas and insights [instead] of rely[ing] on what others think and believe” (Den Uyl, 92). People who give progress to the human species—who advance humankind—by showing us that “at the essential level innovation is what is critical to moving life forward” (Den Uyl, 99). Since transformation, or transcending where we are to something greater and better, is central to both America and The Fountainhead . For this reason, the novel’s hero-protagonist, Roark, is “the embodiment of the correct theory of [American] human progress” (Den Uyl, 61).
Specifically, the Fountainhead is a novel that depicts the meaning of American individualism. For “Howard Roark is a brilliant young architect uninterested in re-creating the past. Rather, he wishes to build according to his own plans and specifications” (Den Uyl, 31). Thus, the opinions of others, including that of most other architects, do not matter to him. For Roark is an individual who makes advances by living according to his own individual truth and vision. Ergo, Roark’s spirit ultimately shows readers that innovation and advancement come from the one who breaks away from the crowd and lives by a new vision. Since “ideas are what move the world, and while they can be shared, they originate and are advanced by individuals” (Den Uyl, 61).
Judging by the overwhelming response The Fountainhead received from members of the reading public, “not by the public as an organized collective —but by single individual readers who discovered it of their own choice, who read it on their own initiative and recommended it on their own judgment”—it is reasonable to say that that The Fountainhead connected to their sense of what it means to be an American (Berliner, 673). Accordingly, many Americans lauded the American values the novel stands for. Thus, soldiers from all marshal-ranks praised The Fountainhead independently, ordinary fans from all backgrounds acclaimed the book autonomously, businessmen from all social strata commended the novel impartially. For they all felt that The Fountainhead either justified why they fought, or inspired them to achieve in their own lives, or aligned with their professional goals somehow.
For example, Americans soldiers, from different marshal ranks—i.e. cadets, privates, airmen, lieutenants, and enlisted men—were so moved by The Fountainhead that they “eagerly passed [the book] from reader to reader” not only because the novel justified “U.S. involvement” in World “War” II 1 by “providing a welcome [explanation] on the reasons for U.S. involvement in the war” but also because it stimulated their minds, as well. (Burns, 92). As one trooper put it:
The Fountainhead made me realize that we fight to protect American values (i.e. civil liberties) from the encroachments of the evil axis powers, who together are trying to make me a slave, by depriving me of my freedom, seizing my person, taking my home and property, and stripping my family of their sovereign rights as individual human beings
Evidently, this soldier fully realized, after reading The Fountainhead , that he risked his life, in World War II, to safeguard his right to think freely, speak freely, and live freely, in a free country. Besides justifying the military’s right to defend their lives, protect their families, and safeguard their property – in a just war – against the encroachments of a foreign hegemon, The Fountainhead was “a hot commodity among military units” because it provided welcome moral instruction (Burns, 92). For soldiers could take their minds off of the Great War for a while—off of trench warfare for a bit—by immersing themselves in a fictional world where their imaginations could roam free. This is why troopers “eagerly passed [ The Fountainhead ] from reader to reader,” so they could relieve “their boredom” by giving their “brains some well needed exercise” (Burns, 92). Indeed, Ayn Rand especially enjoyed the many letters she received from men in the armed forces. [For] she recalled letters from flyers who told her that after every mission they would gather around a candle and read passages from The Fountainhead . One soldier [even] said that he would have felt much better if he thought that the war was being fought for the ideals of The Fountainhead .” (Ralston, 72).
Besides stimulating soldiers, many ordinary fans also thought that The Fountainhead was a great work of “American literature” (Berliner, 315). Because the novel not only “helped [them clarify] their views on life [thereby giving them aid] in [their moral] decisions,” but, most importantly, because it provided solace “when [they] felt unhappy” (Berliner, 235). Other admirers who were “just going to college [read The Fountainhead to equip themselves] with the [book’s] ideals” as intellectual ammunition against their forthcoming collectivist college years. (Berliner, 315). Other Americans also liked the Fountainhead , since they “wanted to choose a profession” that meant as much to them as “writing” the Fountainhead did to Ayn Rand (Berliner, 340). Still others were attracted to The Fountainhead because they were “individualist” writers who wanted emotional fuel to help them not feel so “intellectually lonely” (Berliner, 389). Since they were minority voices who were in “complete sympathy with [Ayn Rand’s] ideas on individualism” (Berliner, 389). This is why many people told Ayn Rand that The Fountainhead was to them “in the nature of a revelation [of their values] and reaffirmation” of themselves: since her book encouraged Americans to fully “discard [the] doctrine of [altruism and] self-sacrifice as an ideal, [so they could find] a different positive faith in humanity” (Berliner, 91, 80). Finally, many Americans read The Fountainhead because they wanted to know where Ayn Rand drew her ideological “ ‘strength’ ” from (Berliner, 97).
Judging by the thousands of enthusiastic letters Ayn Rand received from Americans in response to The Fountainhead , it is clear that her book affirmed people’s basic American drive towards individualism and self-actualization. Others even offered their financial assistance.
For example, many American businessmen were so touched by Ayn Rand’s book that they either offered their own money to advertise her novel, or were willing to spend their own funds to put-up billboards supporting her book, or wanted to name their businesses after her work. For example, a “fishing tackle” maker offered to finance Fountainhead advertisements from his own pocket, because the novel defended his right to make just profits. (Berliner, 94). Another businessman erected signs advertising The Fountainhead , since he wanted to spread an ideology that supported his ability to prosper. A motel owner named his roadhouse