Part 4 Theme Analysis
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is filled with excellent representations of different themes. In part four The Fountainhead several of these themes present themselves, such as: originality, advocation, guilt, and betrayal.
All the characters in this part of the novel at some point collaborate to weave the webs that later emanate as themes. Originality plays a gigantic role in the novel The Fountainhead, and is the main topic in part four. Throughout this novel, we observe that Roark is the main symbol for originality. We see this in his modernistic building and his habit of not caring what society thinks. In fact, society hates him for taking a risk, for actually doing what none of the other architects had ever thought to do. In the novel this theme presents itself when Roark starts to become a more popular architect and “The Banner” begins to defend him from Toohey’s criticizing articles he published. When Wynand does this, it angers his workers and they go on strike and Toohey takes “The Banner” from him. Wynand is given the option to defend Roark, or join the rest of them and write an article pointing out Roark’s faults. Wynand decides to join the crowd due to Toohey’s offers, while Scarret writes an article calling Roark a dangerous, antisocial man and signs in Gail Wynand. This is an example of Gail’s connection with selflessness and his denial of the originality offered to him.
Advocation, along with originality, plays a key role in determining Roark’s future, along with others future. Roark is one of the main people who stands up for himself and his ideas. It is this which helps him in his most crucial moment. Roark blows up the Cortlandt buildings as a response to a committee of architects altering his original plans. When confronted by the police, he willingly gives himself up. His trial comes up and he knows he has to tell them why it was his right to destroy the building. His speech motivates and fascinates the jury and Roark is later found innocent. Standing up for himself brought him to this chaotic event, yet pulled him out of the fire in the end.
Part four expresses yet another important theme of guilt. Guilt is something everyone in this novel feels at one time or
another. Wynand sees an article printed in “The Banner” and realizes that “The Banner” have signed his name upon the article feels guilt that he had aloud them to do it. He takes back “The Banner" and tries to fix his mistake.
Keating, before this escapade, is put in charge of Roark’s drawings for the Cortlandt buildings and tries as hard as he can to keep them the same as they were originally, and feels extreme guilt when Roark comes back and sees the new finished product. Guilt guides people to do different things and can change the attitude of a character or mood of the
passage.
Betrayal, a large yet subtle theme in the novel, affects the lives of our many characters. Betrayal causes both guilt and success. In part four of the novel, Roark is usually the one being betrayed. Wynand and Keating betray him, as well
as society in general. Wynand defends Roark in the beginning, however as time progresses, “The Banner” becomes
swallowed into the black mass of society and persuades Wynand into betraying Roark. As a result Toohey takes advantage and causes Wynand to betray Roark by writing an absolutely criticizing article about Roark, further
encouraging society to hate Roark. Following this, Keating betrays Roark by allowing Roark’s sketches to be altered.
In part four Ayn Rand pushes her characters to emanate the thought of originality, advocation, guilt, and
betrayal.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand is filled with excellent representations of different themes. In part four The Fountainhead several of these themes present themselves, such as: originality, advocation, guilt, and betrayal.
All the characters in this part of the novel at some point collaborate to weave the webs that later emanate as themes. Originality plays a gigantic role in the novel The Fountainhead, and is the main topic in part four. Throughout this novel, we observe that Roark is the main symbol for originality. We see this in his modernistic building and his habit of not caring what society thinks. In fact, society hates him for taking a risk, for actually doing what none of the other architects had ever thought to do. In the novel this theme presents itself when Roark starts to become a more popular architect and “The Banner” begins to defend him from Toohey’s criticizing articles he published. When Wynand does this, it angers his workers and they go on strike and Toohey takes “The Banner” from him. Wynand is given the option to defend Roark, or join the rest of them and write an article pointing out Roark’s faults. Wynand decides to join the crowd due to Toohey’s offers, while Scarret writes an article calling Roark a dangerous, antisocial man and signs in Gail Wynand. This is an example of Gail’s connection with selflessness and his denial of the originality offered to him.
Advocation, along with originality, plays a key role in determining Roark’s future, along with others future. Roark is one of the main people who stands up for himself and his ideas. It is this which helps him in his most crucial moment. Roark blows up the Cortlandt buildings as a response to a committee of architects altering his original plans. When confronted by the police, he willingly gives himself up. His trial comes up and he knows he has to tell them why it was his right to destroy the building. His speech motivates and fascinates the jury and Roark is later found innocent. Standing up for himself brought him to this chaotic event, yet pulled him out of the fire in the end.
Part four expresses yet another important theme of guilt. Guilt is something everyone in this novel feels at one time or
another. Wynand sees an article printed in “The Banner” and realizes that “The Banner” have signed his name upon the article feels guilt that he had aloud them to do it. He takes back “The Banner" and tries to fix his mistake.
Keating, before this escapade, is put in charge of Roark’s drawings for the Cortlandt buildings and tries as hard as he can to keep them the same as they were originally, and feels extreme guilt when Roark comes back and sees the new finished product. Guilt guides people to do different things and can change the attitude of a character or mood of the
passage.
Betrayal, a large yet subtle theme in the novel, affects the lives of our many characters. Betrayal causes both guilt and success. In part four of the novel, Roark is usually the one being betrayed. Wynand and Keating betray him, as well
as society in general. Wynand defends Roark in the beginning, however as time progresses, “The Banner” becomes
swallowed into the black mass of society and persuades Wynand into betraying Roark. As a result Toohey takes advantage and causes Wynand to betray Roark by writing an absolutely criticizing article about Roark, further
encouraging society to hate Roark. Following this, Keating betrays Roark by allowing Roark’s sketches to be altered.
In part four Ayn Rand pushes her characters to emanate the thought of originality, advocation, guilt, and
betrayal.