Best Character in Fountainhead and why?

[Phillip]

There were no characters in this book they were all shallow caricatures. I may have said Peter Keating but he didn't change from beginning to end, he was just exposed. Real people change with experience; maturing for the better hopefully or just growing up.

[Noelle]

I love all the main characters for different reasons. They all have different elements about them that make them crucial to the book. If I had to pick my very favorite though, it would, of course, be Howard Roark.

[Rixi]

Phillip wrote: "There were no characters in this book they were all shallow caricatures. I may have said Peter Keating but he didn't change from beginning to end, he was just exposed. Real people change with exper..."

Well said! Change is what makes a character

[Aditya]

deleted user wrote: "Dominique Francon. Her psychological profile,her intelligence, her unusual means of coping with the man's world of her time.For me, she is also the most difficult to understand. She seems more inte..."

is she not a parasite as said by ayn rand in playboy interview ?

[Isha]

Phillip wrote: "There were no characters in this book they were all shallow caricatures. I may have said Peter Keating but he didn't change from beginning to end, he was just exposed. Real people change with exper..."

Each one of the characters changed. Howard learnt more about architecture and how to deal with people. His attitude towards dealing with negativity is vastly different in the beginning and the end. To quote Gail from before the final trial-"You are not going to show them pictures again,are you?" Just his behavior at the 2 trials is proof.
Roark let Dominique come back to him because she changed enough to accept the world and its misgivings.
Gail-can't believe I have to explain his change-went from someone who would've pandered to societal expectations to someone who decided to fight the same society,alone if need be.
Steven Mallory went from suicidal to self satisfied.
And Peter Keating, you are right that he was exposed,but he also changed in the sense that he realised the futility of it all.
Catherine/Katie's transformation was the most stark of all,even if it was for the worse.
The only character that did not change, in my opinion, was Ellsworth Toohey.
Comments?

[Marina]

Isha- Spot on! Although Roark's values didn't change, just his way of relating to the world.

You forgot Guy Francon, who went from being an amoral money grabber to standing by his daughter when it counted (and the father-daughter relationship has grown as well, which actually a rarity for Rand's work).

[Isha]

Masha wrote: "Isha- Spot on! Although Roark's values didn't change, just his way of relating to the world.

You forgot Guy Francon, who went from being an amoral money grabber to standing by his daughter when i..."

Thanks Masha! I actually did think of him, but got lost writing the long reply. That interaction between Guy and Dominique is one of the rare tender moments with Dominique in it,beautiful.
And you are right about Roark, but I got the feeling that the younger Roark wouldn't have cared enough to explain his ideals to anyone,much less in such a public trial.

[Isha]

Masha wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Gail Wynand. After multiple readings, I have found the relationship between Roark and Wynand to be the most sympathetic and true."

Much as I like Rand's romantic couples, I find t..."

Aryn wrote: "Gail Wynand: He is the only human being in this story of static, cardboard characters. He is the only one who seems capable of learning, changing and discovering things about himself and the world ..."

I do love Roark's equations with all of his male friends, Steve,Mike and Austin. Mike has such little a part in the story, but he is etched so well and echos so much of the book's philosophy an such few words,its amazing.

[Isha]

Tom wrote: "My favourite character was Stephen Mallory. The only complaint I have with the book was that he was not explored further."

I would've loved it if someone was to find a back story that Rand had written about Mallory,like where did he come from? Was he ever in love? Why did he become a sculptor?
He is a very interesting character. I love all his interactions with Roark.

[Isha]

Masha wrote: "There were more chapters of Roark's earlier life, but they were cut for lenghth (or possibly because Rand didn't 100% flesh out her philosophy when she started on this book and wanted to make the c..."
It was consistency that was the issue with those parts. I read those parts once, some time back, and almost all the parts that were cutout were in conflict with some of roark's actions that finally made it into the book. There was also a romantic interest of Roark's, who was eliminated entirely, because Rand felt her story line did not have anything substantial to add to the book as a whole.

[Isha]

Masha wrote: "The Fountainhead, to me, is Rand's preparation to writing her culminating work, Atlas Shrugged. There we get more character development and some characters actually do grow and change. Whatever mad..."

Her transitions are better fleshed out in Atlas Shrugged, in my opinion. The one that stood out most for me was the Wet Nurse-Tony.

[Phillip]

Isha wrote: "Phillip wrote: "There were no characters in this book they were all shallow caricatures. I may have said Peter Keating but he didn't change from beginning to end, he was just exposed. Real people c..."

Then how could I know all the tragic decisions they would make before they made them, all the while hoping they wouldn't if they became so different? Age certainly changed their outlooks but not what comprised their underlying characters which were all very shallow.
The ending says it all; an improbable if not an impossible scene. In high heels? Really?

[Harsha]

Howard Roark ofcourse but Dominique Francon simply amazes me. I couldn't understand her behavior

[Isha]

Phillip wrote: "Isha wrote: "Phillip wrote: "There were no characters in this book they were all shallow caricatures. I may have said Peter Keating but he didn't change from beginning to end, he was just exposed. ..."

Shanu wrote: "Occamsbeard wrote: "Hoard Roark. I love that he does things for the deontological values of them. Unfortunately in all the Ayn Randian books Her Ideology and narratives are very extreme and very ..."

"Tragic Decisions" is clearly your opinion, not echoed by the author. Howard, Dominique, Steve, Mike, Guy Francon are very happy with the events in the end. Even Peter Keating made his peace with his life. The only "tragedy" was Guy Francon, and the reason clearly was to create a character that was almost Roark, but not.
The book is feels improbable to you because she presents an absolute view. But if you look closely, you will find people fitting each one of those characters in this world. And that is the whole point of the book anyway-to present a world that can be and should be- instead of the one that we live in.
Just out of curiosity, what is your idea if a 'not shallow' character?

[Marina]

Isha- You mean Gail Wynand as a tragic character, correct?

I'm not sure if Peter has found peace by the end of the book, but at least he got out from under his mother's thumb and he's painting, which is better than the total fraud that he was at the beginning.

[Chiranjib]

Gail Wynand. Strong willed and determined, a man with a plan. Hungry for power, power over everyone else. I hated the character of Toohey in the book because he was just a load of nonsense, and I was glad Wynand held him in absolute disregard, in his own way. When the tables turned, he didn't give up and fought against people who betrayed him. He was the only one Roark was weak against, because he was so true to himself.

[Isha]

Cant believe I did that! Yes I meant Gail! I am facepalming so hard right now! Thanks!
Masha wrote: "Isha- You mean Gail Wynand as a tragic character, correct?

I'm not sure if Peter has found peace by the end of the book, but at least he got out from under his mother's thumb and he's painting, wh..."

Masha wrote: "Isha- You mean Gail Wynand as a tragic character, correct?

I'm not sure if Peter has found peace by the end of the book, but at least he got out from under his mother's thumb and he's painting, wh..."

[Veerabhathran]

Absolutely, that's how i view it too!

Ellen wrote: "This may be a dumb question...but aren't all of the main characters actually meant to be a metaphor for segments of society or the embodiment of certain traits rather than an actual individual?"

[Sankaranand]

Yuse wrote: "Dominique was my favorite character. Ayn wanted to construct a perfect woman for the perfect man (Roark) and I believe she did that with Dominique."

Yes, I agree with you. Dominique is indeed a powerful character. The love that she has for Roark is mature.

[Shinde]

Jenel wrote: "By the way, has anybody heard of a character named Vesta Dunning, who Ayn Rand edited out of the "Fountainhead" ?"

Yes, a struggling actress who lives in Roark's building. She once sneaks into his unlocked room to practice her theatre dialogues. Roark likes her rendition of Joan of Arc and allows her to use his room so long as she doesn't barge into his space. She later falls for him and his ideologies.
Later, she finds movie success, begins to compromise upon her ideology and they drift apart. This whole episode is available in the book 'The early Ayn Rand'

[Shinde]

all characters in Fountainhead are emblems and symbolic. I sympathized with Katie.
Howard and Dominique are, of course the idealist's ideal dream.
For some reason, I also identified with the nameless cyclist embittered with the world, who stumbles upon Howard's creation , gets inspired and walks away rejuvenated by the mere sight of 'what is possible.'

[Ha]

Tarun wrote: "The most interesting character here is the reader indeed whose mind is constantly being challenged to settle for a philosophy being proved by whatever practical or impractical means possible."

you mean "the reader", or the "narrator"?

[Jinay]

Howard Roark steels the show. With his personality, attitude and a calling for creativity rather than merely copying others work.

Very few people are born in an era who can bring the revolution, character of Howard Roark is one of them. He will either do great work or not work at all. That's how even Steve Jobs operated and we know how he brought about a revolution.

[Isha]

Steve Jobs? Really? Jobs was great at selling stuff, not necessarily creating it. Apple did start out as a pioneer, but even during Jobs' later stint didn't remain so. Plus he is widely known to be disliked by those who worked for him, a trait completely opposite from that of Roark. However, since we are attempting to compare a real person and a fictional character, I don't know how valid the comparisons are.

[Sheila]

Occamsbeard wrote: "Hoard Roark. I love that he does things for the deontological values of them. Unfortunately in all the Ayn Randian books Her Ideology and narratives are very extreme and very over the top, like p..."
This exactly how I would sum it up. Thanks saves me time to write

[Binti]

Dominique.

Her motivations were quite intriguing!

[[deleted user]]

Peter Keating because he reminds me of people I've met in college who has no shred of creativity nor any piece of backbone. Ayn Rand did a job to portraying this character and his repulsive personality. They leech off the backs of others and take credit when they don't deserve it. There is always a Peter Keating in you college classes, study group and office. I grew to hate this character and that's why he is the best.

[[deleted user]]

Vince wrote: "The most interesting character is the reader."

Yeah the reader brings the work to life.

[Henrique]

I think that Gail Wynand is the most interesting character. His life experience, his doubts, his "awakening" when meeting Dominique and Roark, his misused "creator" potential and his ultimately downfall made him "richer" (in a literary way) than the others.

[Smita]

Roark is what I would want to be. But my heart goes out to Gail. I wish I could see him happy in some way in the end. Everything else is perfect. Just... Gail... I feel so sorry for him.

[Aarat]

Gail Wynand.

[BreakfastParadigm]

Jenna wrote: "By the way, has anybody heard of a character named Vesta Dunning, who Ayn Rand edited out of the "Fountainhead" ?"
Yes, I believe the Vesta Dunning excerpt is in the book: The Early Ayn Rand.
Vesta was a young actress who was not classically beautiful but was very talented. She was supposed Roarks first love interest before Dominique but AR felt didn't quite fit in the book.
If you like the character Vesta Dunning I would also suggest Ayn Rand's play called Her Second Career. That is also (definitely) in The Early Ayn Rand.

[J]

None of the characters are interesting besides Wynand, and even he is a phony. These characters are all ridiculous. Some saying Roark? He's a rapist. They are all motivated by some vague notion of integrity and none of them act like real people. Rand's characterization is the worst I have ever read by someone considered to have written "Classics." This is not a classic. This is a curiosity, and after the first few chapters the curiosity declines. The speech Ellsworth gives to Keating toward the end is a good one. I could not find much else to praise in this tome of banality.

[Ingrid]

Peter Keating by far. He's the most complex of all, the one we're more likely to meet in our day to day lives, the one who's less of an archetype, if none at all. While Howard Roark, Dominique, Wynand and even Toohey exist in the story almost to represent or portrait certain ideas, Keating is a real human being full of internal contradictions. Also he's the one to go on the most interesting journey in the novel.

[Rodolemma]

As I am getting g older, I am less liking the Roark character as compared to my younger days when I used be a die hard fan of his individualistic ideology.