Wright was a fiercely independent individual, who refused to collaborate on his work and who learned early in his career not to compromise. has friends and colleagues, but relies on himself alone. For Rand, love should be this recognition of an individual's great worth, rather than a biological or emotional response. "My purpose, first cause and prime mover is the portrayal of Howard Roark . His life exemplifies the fate of many innovators who have discovered new knowledge or invented a revolutionary product, only to be repudiated by society. What a guitarist would plug his electric guitar into: Abbr. in-depth analysis of Dominique Francon Andrei, an honest man who believes sincerely in the ideals of the Bolshevik Revolution, witnesses the harsh fate to which Kira is condemned, and must question the virtue of the Communist principles for which he has always stood. The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Russian-American author Ayn Rand, her first major literary success. [80] Philosopher Douglas Den Uyl identified the individualism presented in the novel as being specifically of an American kind, portrayed in the context of that country's society and institutions. [33] The character has been interpreted as a representation of the master morality described by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche;[34] his tragic nature illustrates Rand's rejection of Nietzsche's philosophy. The villain of the novel, and Roarks antithesisa comes from New Yorks slums and is an entirely self-taught, self-made Ellsworth M. Toohey, the influential columnist on architecture for the Banner newspaper and the novels villain. Lois Cook deliberately builds the "ugliest house" in New York and cultivates a slovenly appearance as means to shock the middle class. Rand presents this as a tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall. Wanting to build a home for himself and his new wife, Wynand discovers that Roark designed every building he likes and so hires him. Eventually, to punish herself for her behavior, she marries Henry Cameron Roark's mentor. "The Fountainhead - Characters" Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. The nonconformists, too, were part of the culture that spawned the Nazis. Without any talent of his own, he exploits his position to stir up popular hostility against the superior few in the name of selflessness. Accordingly, Roark becomes his number one target. He believes every article and column printed in the Banner. (one code per order). A mass of fish eggs. [30][35][36] In Rand's view, a person like Wynand, who seeks power over others, is as much a "second-hander" as a conformist such as Keating. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Dominique Francon, the heroine of the story is shown to emerge as a strong, independent woman as the story develops. In exchange for social approval, he is willing to sacrifice any and all of his personal convictions. [24] Philosopher Andrew Bernstein wrote: "For much of the novel, Dominique is a tortured soul, tormented by a profound inner conflict between her imperishable idealism and a deep-seated conviction that a debased society will inexorably crush the towering genius she so fervently hero-worships". Ayn Rand Author Ayn Rand wrote the best-selling books 'The Fountainhead' and 'Atlas Shrugged,' and promoted the philosophy of Objectivism. Dominique leaves Wynand for Roark. Roger Enright Innovative businessman. and fragile-looking man, but his persuasive voice and knack for The Festival d'Avignon production received positive from the French newspapers La Croix,[160] Les chos,[166] and Le Monde,[167] as well as from the English newspaper The Guardian, whose reviewer described it as "electrifying theatre". Ed. Peter Keating and then Gail Wynand. He gives Roark his first major commission, is responsible for bringing Roarks work to public attention, and remains Roarks friend and defender through the novel. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. But the theme in The Fountainhead is deeper and more complex. college by working odd jobs on construction sites. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Rand's stated goal in writing fiction was to portray her vision of an ideal man. As historian James Baker described it, "The Fountainhead hardly mentions politics or economics, despite the fact that it was born in the 1930s. Fountainhead, The (1949): Revisiting Controversial Melodrama of Ayn 28 June 2023 . [65] Twelve publishers (including Macmillan and Knopf) rejected the book. Keating is an outstanding example of a status-seeking conformist. Roark's unusual design includes a nude statue modeled on Dominique; Toohey persuades Stoddard to sue Roark for malpractice. [47][48], In 1928, Rand made notes for a proposed, but never written, novel titled The Little Street. [71][72] The novel began appearing on bestseller lists in 1944. director of photography Editing by David Weisbart Art Direction by Edward Carrere Set Decoration by William L. Kuehl . In the 1970s, writer-director Michael Cimino entered a deal to film his own script for United Artists starring Clint Eastwood as Roark, but postponed the project in favor of abortive biographical films on Janis Joplin and Frank Costello. An unthinking "mom and apple pie" type of conservative, he is invaluable to Wynand as a means of gauging public opinion. The name of a Californian peninsula. [120], The success of the novel brought Rand new publishing opportunities. It is no accident that Ayn Rand shows these rebels as followers of Toohey, because nonconformists, placing others first, always cluster into private enclaves that inevitably demand rigid obedience to their own set of rules. That he gives money generously to help political prisoners around the globe shows his respect for the independent mind. A ___ Paul, who played Jesse Pinkman in "Breaking Bad", Dominique ___, the heroine in Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead". Enter a Crossword Clue Sort by Length [130] Literature professor Philip R. Yannella said the novel is "a central text of American conservative and libertarian political culture". [31][32], When Rand first arrived in New York as an immigrant from the Soviet Union in 1926, she was greatly impressed by the Manhattan skyline's towering skyscrapers, which she saw as symbols of freedom, and resolved that she would write about them. Roark goes to New York City and gets a job with Henry Cameron. [117] Individualist feminist Wendy McElroy said that while Dominique is "thoroughly taken", there is nonetheless "clear indication" that Dominique both gave consent for and enjoyed the experience. A lifelong friend of Roark's, Mike's life shows that a person does not have to be a genius to be independent, but he must be willing to live by his own judgment. She attacks his work in public, but visits him for secret sexual encounters. It shows what happens when the thinkers go on strike when the Howard Roark types, the inventors, scientists, and men of independent judgment refuse to practice their professions in a world that expects them to comply. 1998 eNotes.com Keating rises in the architectural profession through manipulating people rather than through creative design. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "the heroine in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead", 5 letters crossword clue. [118][107], Although Rand had some mainstream success previously with her play Night of January 16th and had two previously published novels, The Fountainhead was a major breakthrough in her career. Via, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Fountainhead&oldid=1152291775, This page was last edited on 29 April 2023, at 10:07. He is the novels idealization of man, bringing innovative Gail Wynand, newspaper publisher who turned the Banner into a crime-and-scandal sheet to appeal to the vulgar masses. The Fountainhead is his journey against tradition and his fight against the system. [179] Rand biographer Anne Heller complimented the adaptation, calling it "handsomely illustrated". [124][125], The Fountainhead has continued to have strong sales throughout the last century into the current one. [50] David Harriman, who edited the notes for the posthumously published Journals of Ayn Rand (1997), described the story's villain as a preliminary version of the character Ellsworth Toohey, and this villain's assassination by the protagonist as prefiguring the attempted assassination of Toohey. [97] Benjamin DeCasseres, a columnist for the New York Journal-American, described Roark as "one of the most inspiring characters in modern American literature". [51], Rand began The Fountainhead (originally titled Second-Hand Lives) following the completion of her first novel, We the Living, in 1934. In his own unprincipled way, it is his willingness to let Roark design in his own style that makes possible Roark's first commission. She then used a thesaurus and found 'fountainhead' as a synonym. [18] Writer Tore Boeckmann described her as a character with conflicting beliefs and saw her actions as a logical representation of how those conflicts might play out. This sounds like the plot of a bad teen movie where the nerdy heroine captures the heart of the big man on campus, gets a glamorous makeover, and lives happily ever after. [141] Critics panned the movie. Renews July 4, 2023 . 2023 Course Hero, Inc. All rights reserved. It concerns the way in which individuals choose to use their minds whether they think and value independently or whether they allow their lives to be dominated, in one form or another, by the beliefs of others. Choose from a range of topics like Movies, Sports, Technology, Games, History, Architecture and more! Ayn Rand shows that conformity, a widespread phenomenon in contemporary American society, is one of the underlying causes of collectivist dictatorship. She sold the movie rights to The Fountainhead and returned to Hollywood to write the screenplay for the adaptation. His faith in humanity He is an uncompromising architect whose rhetoric and artistic behavior is clearly inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. A gifted but disillusioned sculptor who feels alone Ayn Rand shows in Anthem that all the values that make human life valuable and joyous come from the individual, not from society. When Rand was only a quarter done with the manuscript by October 1940, Knopf canceled her contract. Rand described herself as a "man-worshiper," as one who revered man at his highest and best. labor or architecture. His statue of a nude Dominique is a masterpiece symbolizing the indomitability of the human spirit. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues . The film would have ended with Kane standing atop the completed skyscraper. [175], The novel was also parodied in an episode of the animated adventure series Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures[176] and in season 20 of the animated sitcom The Simpsons, in the last part of the episode "Four Great Women and a Manicure". Read an Ellsworth Toohey Architectural critic and spiritual power broker. The history of The Fountainhead is like an example of its own theme. rejects his work. Rand agreed, provided that she could oversee the editing and approve the proposed illustrations of her characters, which were provided by Frank Godwin. Although all human beings have minds, many people choose not to use theirs, looking instead to others for guidance. Gus Webb One of Toohey's followers. blend of religion, Fascism and Socialism, and he at times resembles Austen Heller Newspaper columnist who defends the rights of the individual. [131], The book has a particular appeal to young people, an appeal that led historian James Baker to describe it as "more important than its detractors think, although not as important as Rand fans imagine". By the end of the twentieth century, the book that was "too intellectual" had sold over six million copies and touched the lives of countless readers. has despised the achievements of others, and he dedicates himself Steven Mallory Sculptor of significant ability, who portrays man the exalted hero in his figures. In order to rise to of his own. King Vidor Writer Ayn Rand Stars Gary Cooper Patricia Neal Raymond Massey See production, box office & company info Watch on Prime Video rent/buy from $2.99 More watch options Add to Watchlist Added by 12.9K users 240 User reviews 41 Critic reviews Videos 1 Trailer 2:18 Watch The Fountainhead Photos 47 Daughter of the prestigious architect Guy Francon, As I've said before, Peter Keating and Gail Wynand are the best characters in The Fountainhead, because they have actual, compelling character arcs.Where Howard Roark and Ellsworth Toohey are inert - immovable masses reflecting opposing philosophical principles - and therefore boring, both Keating and Wynand react, learn and . Previous CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. "[157], The Dutch theater company Toneelgroep Amsterdam presented a Dutch-language adaptation for the stage at the Holland Festival in June 2014. Lois Cook Another mindless rebel and follower of Toohey. the world. King Vidor's spellbinding 1949 adaptation of Rand's The Fountainhead makes so much more sense if you view protagonist Howard Roark, the muscle-bound, perpetually scowling personification of Objectivist ideals, as a larger than life villain rather than the impossibly romanticized, idealized hero Rand intended.. Roark does, after all, blow up a low-income housing complex rather than . Roark Robert Burks, ASC Photographs The Fountainhead [55] As she developed the story, she began to see more political meaning in the novel's ideas about individualism. Nor does it deal with world affairs, although it was written during World War II. He is tall, Ralston Holcolmbe Another traditionalist in architecture. Increase your vocabulary and general knowledge. [174] Kazmi's wife, Sahira Kazmi, played Dominique. [40][43] Rand used her memory of the democratic socialist British Labour Party Chairman Harold Laski to help her imagine what Toohey would do in a given situation. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13.