Connection to Objectivism for Part One
Throughout part one of The Fountainhead Roark is perceived as selfish by the majority of society. He is determined to practice modernistic architecture, despite the strong objections of society. His persistent individualism creates a difficult occupational situation for him. He has very few clients and very little popularity with the general public. Some view his buildings as a disgrace, while others are simply stunned by the intense changes. Rarely is someone struck with admiration or the desire to hire Roark. He is deemed selfish because he ignores others' opinions and is concerned only with his own advancements. However, his ideas are truly harmless in the fact that they can only bring change. Society will reject him until they discover any potential benefits for themselves. This should also be classified as selfish, but it is ignored and ironically selflessness continues to be advocated.
Keating displays a combination of selfishness and selflessness. He is consistently manipulative. He requests the aid of Roark's designing talents on several occasions and eagerly allows himself to be acknowledged for Roark's work. His only concern during this remains the possibility of its public exposure. He devises a plan to eliminate his competition with Stengel and Davis while employed for Francon & Heyer, being inconsiderate of their fate. He is consumed with increasing his power and reputation within the company. His mother also has a strong influence on this determination. The sacrifices he is willing to make to please his mother creates the selfless aspect of this determination. He is willing to sacrifice his love for Katie to marry Dominique at his mother's recommendation. He also denied an opportunity to further his career as a student as his mother wished. These actions were selfishly affected some people and selflessly afftected others. The selfless aspect is presented by his willingness to accommodate his mother. Keating also exemplifies selflessness in his refusal to use Katie to reach her uncle, Toohey.
Dominique's honesty can be mistaken for selfishness. The impression of her inconsideration is instigated by the frank and open manner in which she speaks and behaves. This gives her the appearance of being inconsiderate. Such as when she reviews one of the buildings her father's company, Francon & Heyer, designed for a newspaper. She wasn't influenced by her father's potential reaction and emotions and she proceeded to give it a negative review. Inconsideration is generally applied to selfishness, but in this instance it is equivalent to honesty. Honesty is preached by society, but practiced to an extent. Society generally considers that which conforms to its ethical standards and customs is honest and that which deceives it is dishonest. Dominique is truly honest, but society still urges to reject her for her differences.
Mike is a representative of both selflessness and selfishness. After befriending Roark at one of the construction sites of Francon & Heyer he remains a dedicated friend. He applies to work on the construction of the Heller house, Roark's first hired architectural project, to support him. His desire for Roark's success is also evident in his reaction to Roark asking for assistance in seeking employment. He is angered by Roark's submission to society, but understands the necessity of it and ensures his employment. In these selfless acts some hints of selfishness are present. To society, Mike's support for Roark's individualism is equally as selfish as Roark's persistence, but Mike's support of friendship is selfless.
Toohey is introduced in this section of the novel, but his character is evaluated much more efficiently further into Rand's work, especially his selflessness. A prominent example of the selfishness of Toohey was his public speech expressing his support for the Building Trade Union's strike. Despite that the newspaper company he was employed by, Wynand's The Banner, disapproved of the movement, Toohey disloyally encouraged the cause. However, Toohey was motivated in this betrayal by what believed to be to the benefit of his audience. He deceives people into believing that it is only proper to help each other, which he describes as dictating their soul. This forces them to focus on serving eachother, thus resulting in advances for the common good. It seems selfish to manipulate people in this manner, but Toohey's intentions of helping all are selfless.
Keating displays a combination of selfishness and selflessness. He is consistently manipulative. He requests the aid of Roark's designing talents on several occasions and eagerly allows himself to be acknowledged for Roark's work. His only concern during this remains the possibility of its public exposure. He devises a plan to eliminate his competition with Stengel and Davis while employed for Francon & Heyer, being inconsiderate of their fate. He is consumed with increasing his power and reputation within the company. His mother also has a strong influence on this determination. The sacrifices he is willing to make to please his mother creates the selfless aspect of this determination. He is willing to sacrifice his love for Katie to marry Dominique at his mother's recommendation. He also denied an opportunity to further his career as a student as his mother wished. These actions were selfishly affected some people and selflessly afftected others. The selfless aspect is presented by his willingness to accommodate his mother. Keating also exemplifies selflessness in his refusal to use Katie to reach her uncle, Toohey.
Dominique's honesty can be mistaken for selfishness. The impression of her inconsideration is instigated by the frank and open manner in which she speaks and behaves. This gives her the appearance of being inconsiderate. Such as when she reviews one of the buildings her father's company, Francon & Heyer, designed for a newspaper. She wasn't influenced by her father's potential reaction and emotions and she proceeded to give it a negative review. Inconsideration is generally applied to selfishness, but in this instance it is equivalent to honesty. Honesty is preached by society, but practiced to an extent. Society generally considers that which conforms to its ethical standards and customs is honest and that which deceives it is dishonest. Dominique is truly honest, but society still urges to reject her for her differences.
Mike is a representative of both selflessness and selfishness. After befriending Roark at one of the construction sites of Francon & Heyer he remains a dedicated friend. He applies to work on the construction of the Heller house, Roark's first hired architectural project, to support him. His desire for Roark's success is also evident in his reaction to Roark asking for assistance in seeking employment. He is angered by Roark's submission to society, but understands the necessity of it and ensures his employment. In these selfless acts some hints of selfishness are present. To society, Mike's support for Roark's individualism is equally as selfish as Roark's persistence, but Mike's support of friendship is selfless.
Toohey is introduced in this section of the novel, but his character is evaluated much more efficiently further into Rand's work, especially his selflessness. A prominent example of the selfishness of Toohey was his public speech expressing his support for the Building Trade Union's strike. Despite that the newspaper company he was employed by, Wynand's The Banner, disapproved of the movement, Toohey disloyally encouraged the cause. However, Toohey was motivated in this betrayal by what believed to be to the benefit of his audience. He deceives people into believing that it is only proper to help each other, which he describes as dictating their soul. This forces them to focus on serving eachother, thus resulting in advances for the common good. It seems selfish to manipulate people in this manner, but Toohey's intentions of helping all are selfless.