BiographyAlisa Rosenbaum, who was to become Ayn Rand, was born into a wealthy family in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1905. Extremely precocious, she taught herself to read and at eleven decided to become a writer. In 1917, the youngster witnessed the beginnings of the Russian Revolution and the Bolshevik Revolution. Her family fled to the …
Theme AnalysisNonconformity Many of the characters in The Fountainhead are described as nonconformists to illustrate Rands idea that nonconformity, which is popularly believed to be a breaking away from social convention, is simply another version of it. For instance, Ellsworth Tooheys minions, the writer Lois Cook and the young architect Gus Webb, take on the …
Part IV Chapters 16-20Summary Chapter 16 Despite Wynands heroic efforts, the circulation of the Banner drops daily with thousands of papers returned unread and advertisers jumping ship. The investors call a meeting and demand that Wynand either close down the newspaper or issue a retraction regarding the Roark case and rehire the editors and Toohey. …
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Summary Chapter 11 Exhausted, Roark goes on a long sea voyage with Wynand after most of the Cortlandt project is completed. Wynand warns: “youll have everything you can imagine, except paper or pencils?(601). Dominique is left behind. Wynand feels joy because he believes Dominique is jealous of the time he spends with Roark, but she …
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Part IV Chapters 6-10Summary Chapter 6 Toohey is the guest of honor at the enormously wealthy Mitchell Laytons dinner party. He pontificates: “only when we accept total compulsion can we experience total freedom (553). The other guests are people Toohey has put in power in various positions around the City: “its stupid to talk about …
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Summary Chapter 1 A discouraged college student rides his bike through the woods in 1935, grateful for the escape from people and towns. He comes across a group of buildings more beautiful than he can believe in the Pennsylvania hills. It is the resort designed by Howard Roark. The young man takes courage from it …
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Part III Chapters 6-9Summary Chapter 6 Toohey attends a meeting of the Council of American Writers, a group of inferior writers that he started and which have, over time, become highly regarded. However, the self-satisfied writers dont realize the depth of their inferiority. Surprisingly, Toohey finally begins to support modern architecture and approves minimalist principles. …
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Summary Chapter 1 The powerful newspaper publisher Wynand sits in his luxury New York Apartment contemplating suicide but decides against it. He desires to venture into real estate by building a housing development called Stoneridge and seeks an architect. Toohey, the architectural columnist for Wynands Banner, of course recommends Keating. Wynand, who doesnt think much …
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Part II Chapters 11-15Summary Chapter 11 Toohey continues to preach the disintegration of the ego to Peter Keating who feels ashamed of the Cosmo-Slotnick building: “you missed the beautiful pride of utter selflessness?(322). Roark offers a commission to Stephen Mallory, the sculptor who shot Toohey, for a statue of the human spirit for the Stoddard …
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Summary Chapter 6 Back in New York, Roark reopens his office and hires the most talented draftsmen he can find to work on the Enright House. His friend Heller coaxes him into attending socialite Kiki Holcombes cocktail party so he can get another commission. He refuses until he hears that Dominique will be there. Dressed …
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