Peace On The Streets: Analysis Of Altruism And Egoism In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

1502 words - 6 pages

The ultimate motive of both the altruist and egoist is personal gain. Separating the two ideologies is the method by which this is accomplished. For the altruist, addressing the needs of humanity is purportedly the sole purpose of existence. Egoists, on the other hand, refuse to act if an action does not directly benefit themselves. In The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand addresses the function of altruists and egoists within society through character development. There are four characters in particular who distinctly exhibit the attributes of altruistic and egoistic individuals: Catherine Halsey, Peter Keating, and Ellsworth Toohey possess altruistic qualities; whereas, Howard Roark is explicitly egoistic.
By definition, altruism is "the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others". Through vigorous analysis, however, I have established it to be a complex ideology whose followers can be divided into three categories: slaves, abusers, and advocates. The slave abides by the ideals of 'pure' altruism. In other words, he does not act according to personal need or desire; humanity is all that matters. This is altruism in its purest form and is the branch of altruism which envelopes Catherine and allows her to feel a sense of purpose. Yet, much more common is the abuser of altruism. He is the altruist who ascertains and seizes any opportunity for personal gain by abusing the ostensibly philanthropic ideology. As ironic as this seems, it is common practice for one to proffer with the intention of receiving something in return. Peter Keating demonstrates how such an abuser manipulates altruism into a golden ladder by which he may reach success. Reigning over even the most conniving abuser is the omnipotent follower of altruism: the advocate. Naturally an abuser himself, this individual promotes altruism, specifically of the slave form. This subtle manipulation allows him to rise above the rest of the population and impinge it through veiled supremacy. In The Fountainhead, this advocate is Ellsworth Toohey.
Catherine Halsey is ensnared in the slavery of altruism. Pure are her intentions; destructive are her actions. In the early stages of the novel, Catherine may be described as "innocent and sweet and pretty"(Rand, p.233); however, her demeanour regresses to that of a perplexed, brooding individual who has lost all self-confidence and vigour. Under her uncle Toohey's manipulation, she becomes obsessed with contributing to society. Neglecting her own well-being, though a characteristic of many altruists, causes her to fall into the trap of her philosophy. Catherine fades away; faceless in the midst of a social movement, she is merely another of Toohey's sycophants. She denies her discontent. She claims that she is happy. Her façade disguises the ubiquitous primitive desire to pursue her individual interests. A fear of falling deeper into misery arises without warning and causes Catherine to panic profusely: "'I...

Standing Alone Against the World in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

827 words - 3 pages Standing Alone Against the World in Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead Conformity is a basic human characteristic that man spends a life time either fighting or accepting, but few can escape. Parents, churches, schools, and communities teach that the path Peter Keating follows is the assured road to security and happiness. Humans crave companionship and are willing to sacrifice their values, beliefs, and very souls for the satisfaction of

Five-page analysis of Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" novel. Explains the significance of modern architecture and the modern architect

1254 words - 5 pages The Fountainhead is a highly descriptive novel depicting the trials of a modern architect and society's opinion on the principles of contemporary architecture. Throughout Ayn Rand's story, many different situations arise that intentionally spark conflict in the minds of the readers. The main controversies addressed are the characteristics and demeanor of the modern architect, the uniqueness of the modern architecture itself, and the debate of a

Independence, Egoism, and Achievement in The Fountainhead

973 words - 4 pages Independence, Egoism, and Achievement in The Fountainhead Ayn Rand said that the theme of The Fountainhead is "individualism versus collectivism, not in politics, but in man's soul." I want to comment on three specific aspects of this theme, as it is embodied in Roark's character and his interactions with the other figures in the novel. Roark is a man of independence, he is an egoist, and he is a creator, a paragon of productive

Objectism in The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand

1111 words - 4 pages Standing as, perhaps, one of the most controversial and, simultaneously, innovative philosophies of the twentieth century, Ayn Rand's Objectivism philosophy has gathered an unprecedented following. Demonstrated and explained in detail through the use of the characters Howard Roark, Ellsworth Toohey, Peter Keating, and Dominique Francon in her infamous novel The Fountainhead, Rand creates a storyline that effectively portrays all aspects of

Objectivism in Ayn Rand´s The Fountainhead

992 words - 4 pages Objectivism is defined as “an ethical theory that moral good is objectively (based on facts rather than feelings or opinions) real or that moral precepts are objectively valid.” (Webster). Demonstrated by Ayn Rand in the book, The Fountainhead, objectivism seems to most, to be morally wrong, and socially impractical, despite seeming to be a stress-free way of life. In The Fountainhead, Howard Roark does not see relationships as necessary, but

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

771 words - 3 pages The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand, shows the human ideal and a struggle to keep itself going in a decaying world. It depicts the fact that in order to be successful and remain that way, man must be moral and practical, not one or the other. In doing so, Rand has created two characters Peter Keating and Howard Roark, a foil of one another. They went to the same school, chose the same profession, and even lived in the same house. Throughout the novel

Atlas Shrugged Describe the economic and political climate of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged

680 words - 3 pages The economic and political climate of Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged represent the polarized ideologies of her day, and make for a telling lesson for those in business today. The forces and conditions that permitted the rise of the great American industrialists also led for calls of legislation and redistribution of wealth- as Ayn Rand would say, "thieves armed with bills rather than guns". While the battle field has gained complexity, the battle

Ayn Rand's View of Technology as seen in the novel "Anthem"

1004 words - 4 pages Ayn Rand, author of the novel Anthem, had the philosophical view of both a Romantic and a Realist. She states, "I am Romantic in the sense that I present men as they ought to be. I am a Realist in the sense that I place them here and now and on this earth." This quote implies that she portrays man in an idealistic sense, but she places her characters in a realistic world. Emigrating from the her home country of Russia into America, Rand was

Ethical Egoism: The Problem with Ayn Rand

2516 words - 10 pages Ayn Rand’s controversial views and opinions on ethical egoism have paved the way in liberating and absolving society’s conservative elite from feeling guilt or compassion towards those who are less fortunate in society - including those from the middle-class, the working poor and minorities. Though Rand penned her theory decades ago, her brand of ethical egoism is still touted as gospel by some politicians and those in the upper echelons of

Egoism Vs. Altruism: Universal Human Traits in Eliot and Kafka

1238 words - 5 pages become his main concern. The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius famously said, “Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time.” Throughout human existence, human beings have found gratification in both egoism and altruism. As Dr. Irwin Edman states in Human Traits and Their Social Significance: “there is nothing more unnatural about altruism than egoism” (158). He states that both egoism and

Themes in Ayn Rand's Anthem

2171 words - 9 pages Anthem Themes “My happiness is not the means to any end. It is the end. It is its own goal. It is its own purpose” (Rand, 95). Anthem is written by American author Ayn Rand about Equality 7-2521 on his quest for happiness. The novel is set in an unspecified time and place in the future. Years after human civilization has gone through a deconstruction in which all knowledge was lost and a new society established with no concept of the

Analysis Of Altruism And Egoism In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

1484 words - 6 pages The ultimate motive of both the altruist and egoist is personal gain. Separating the two ideologies is the method by which this is accomplished. For the altruist, addressing the needs of humanity is purportedly the sole purpose of existence. Egoists, on the other hand, refuse to act if an action does not directly benefit themselves. In The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand addresses the function of altruists and egoists within society through character

Altruism And Egotism Portrayed In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

1968 words - 8 pages In the world today, altruism is associated with the “common good” of man while egotism is associated with evil and non-consideration of the fellow man. In contrast to the world’s view, Ayn Rand provides and proves a new definition for egotism through her book, The Fountainhead. She defines egotism in the context of ethics. She states: “Man-every man-is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither

Heroism In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

1165 words - 5 pages on the principle of trade and on the principle of sacrifice. An incident in The Fountainhead illustrates Roark's independence and his total disregard for conventions. Keating is surprised when Roark refuses to join the A.G.A., just as he had refused to join the fraternity at Stanton. Roark tells him -- I won't join anything at anytime. I don't like being helped in being an architect. It was this integrity of his which led him to

Creators And Parasites In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

989 words - 4 pages Creators and Parasites in The Fountainhead "The creators concern is the conquest of nature. The parasites concern is the conquest of men," Howard Roark states in his dramatic courtroom speech defending himself after the Cortlandt Homes incident. This quote sums up the two categories of people in rather graphic form. The creator, or non-conformist, being glorified in his attempt to better the very earth itself, independent of