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Abstract

refuses to compromise his artistic integrity</h1>For those of you who haven’t read the novel, while I strongly recommend grabbing a copy NOW, I’ll give you a bit of a description.He is an architect by profession and is very clear in his beliefs of how architecture should be — each structure serving a specific purpose, without any pretense. A modernistic and innovative approach in an era where traditional architecture was most prevalent — a man ahead of his times.His artistic integrity was something he wouldn’t ever compromise on. He is expelled from school for not adhering to the school’s preference for historic and conventional designs such as Classical, Gothic, or Renaissance architecture. He only knows the Howard Roark style of architecture.He gladly gives up a lucrative job opportunity when he is asked to work on building designs that go against his ideologies.How I wish I could do as he did — just write my heart out, without compromising the slightest on what defines me and my style of writing.Yet, I compromise. I write to please the crowd — the crowd that takes various forms and shapes, whether it is the editor, the publisher, or the reader.Howard chooses to work at a granite factory to make ends meet, over building a structure that he doesn't agree with in principle. He is the embodiment of unwavering principles and integrity, that the real world can’t offer.Rand’s notes describe Howard Roark as:“Outwardly, his life follows the course conventionally considered as that of an unselfish man; he sacrifices everything to his convictions, to the integrity of his work; he is not concerned with wealth, fame, admiration or physical comfort; he lives in poverty; he is a martyr to an ideal.”<h1 id="2666">He loves with the same ideology — as selflessly as no man can</h1>Dominique Francon is Howard’s love interest and another key character in the movie. She marries two other main characters of the book before she marries Howard Roark in the en

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d. She is a complex character, and she chooses those marriages as a means of self-torture, in her own way.Yet, Howard only loves Dominique Francon, from start to finish, with selfless and undemanding love.When Dominique eventually comes back to Howard Roark, after her own interesting paths that she chooses for herself, having married Howard’s adversary Peter Keating first, and then Gail Wynand, the man who craves power and puts all his power and wealth to support Howard Roark, but ends up shattering his own legacy in the process.Yet, when Dominique finally chooses to come back to Howard, he loves her as he always has, welcomes her with open arms, as Dominique finally stops running away from the things, and the man, she truly loves.<h1 id="a4fc">He chooses his own path and finds success in the end</h1>He takes the most torturous path, full of ordeals and rejections, yet makes not even an iota of compromise.Yet, he does have his time. He may not achieve the success as we know or believe success to be — the power, the wealth we associate with it.Yet, he achieves his own definition of success when he is commissioned to build the buildings that he truly believes in, the structures that to him are the true embodiment of modern architecture. He finds his own niche of admirers who understand and admire his skill and his art.That’s what I’d love to do. I want to never go searching for an audience and pleasing a crowd by changing who I am. I’d rather be me and let my audience find me. But, can I or will I? Only time will tell. That audience might never be the majority, but would you rather please the majority or please those who really get you? Those who appreciate the art that you have to offer.Will I ever succeed in being even a fraction of what Howard Roark is? I’d predict not, but we will find out. Meanwhile, I haven’t done any justice to the book and the characters in my brief descriptions of them, so if you want to know the character more, I’d recommend a read!</article></body>

Howard Roark — The Only Idol I’ll Ever Have

Because such perfection can only exist in fiction

I’ll admit that I am not much of a reader. So, when I say I’ve read The Fountainhead about four times, mostly over a couple of days of non-stop reading, it’s the biggest compliment I can give.

That masterpiece by Ayn Rand invokes a lot of opinions, but the good thing is they’re either white or black. I’m yet to find a person who “kind of liked” The Fountainhead or found it “average”. You either love it or you hate it.

Its basic premise like many of Ayn Rand’s novels is the question of individualism vs. collectivism. She herself stated the theme of the book as:

“individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in man’s soul”

On her purpose in writing the book, Ayn Rand said:

“The first purpose of the book is a defense of egoism in its real meaning…a new definition of egoism and its living example.”

That living example of egoism is the protagonist, Howard Roark.

I’ve admittedly always loved myself far too much to idolize any other living being and to have a desire to be like someone. Sure, I look up to certain people for certain qualities — Rafael Nadal is probably a big one, but I don’t really admire someone as much as I do, the character of Howard Roark.

As I’ve dived deeper into this hobby and love for writing, I’ve found myself wanting to embody some of his qualities all the more, yet most often falling short.

He refuses to compromise his artistic integrity

For those of you who haven’t read the novel, while I strongly recommend grabbing a copy NOW, I’ll give you a bit of a description.

He is an architect by profession and is very clear in his beliefs of how architecture should be — each structure serving a specific purpose, without any pretense. A modernistic and innovative approach in an era where traditional architecture was most prevalent — a man ahead of his times.

His artistic integrity was something he wouldn’t ever compromise on. He is expelled from school for not adhering to the school’s preference for historic and conventional designs such as Classical, Gothic, or Renaissance architecture. He only knows the Howard Roark style of architecture.

He gladly gives up a lucrative job opportunity when he is asked to work on building designs that go against his ideologies.

How I wish I could do as he did — just write my heart out, without compromising the slightest on what defines me and my style of writing.

Yet, I compromise. I write to please the crowd — the crowd that takes various forms and shapes, whether it is the editor, the publisher, or the reader.

Howard chooses to work at a granite factory to make ends meet, over building a structure that he doesn't agree with in principle. He is the embodiment of unwavering principles and integrity, that the real world can’t offer.

Rand’s notes describe Howard Roark as:

“Outwardly, his life follows the course conventionally considered as that of an unselfish man; he sacrifices everything to his convictions, to the integrity of his work; he is not concerned with wealth, fame, admiration or physical comfort; he lives in poverty; he is a martyr to an ideal.”

He loves with the same ideology — as selflessly as no man can

Dominique Francon is Howard’s love interest and another key character in the movie. She marries two other main characters of the book before she marries Howard Roark in the end. She is a complex character, and she chooses those marriages as a means of self-torture, in her own way.

Yet, Howard only loves Dominique Francon, from start to finish, with selfless and undemanding love.

When Dominique eventually comes back to Howard Roark, after her own interesting paths that she chooses for herself, having married Howard’s adversary Peter Keating first, and then Gail Wynand, the man who craves power and puts all his power and wealth to support Howard Roark, but ends up shattering his own legacy in the process.

Yet, when Dominique finally chooses to come back to Howard, he loves her as he always has, welcomes her with open arms, as Dominique finally stops running away from the things, and the man, she truly loves.

He chooses his own path and finds success in the end

He takes the most torturous path, full of ordeals and rejections, yet makes not even an iota of compromise.

Yet, he does have his time. He may not achieve the success as we know or believe success to be — the power, the wealth we associate with it.

Yet, he achieves his own definition of success when he is commissioned to build the buildings that he truly believes in, the structures that to him are the true embodiment of modern architecture. He finds his own niche of admirers who understand and admire his skill and his art.

That’s what I’d love to do. I want to never go searching for an audience and pleasing a crowd by changing who I am. I’d rather be me and let my audience find me. But, can I or will I? Only time will tell. That audience might never be the majority, but would you rather please the majority or please those who really get you? Those who appreciate the art that you have to offer.

Will I ever succeed in being even a fraction of what Howard Roark is? I’d predict not, but we will find out. Meanwhile, I haven’t done any justice to the book and the characters in my brief descriptions of them, so if you want to know the character more, I’d recommend a read!