Selfishness In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

In both modern society and the world set forth in the beginning Ayn Rand 's The Fountainhead, altruism and selflessness are praised as accepted ideals while independence and selfishness are abhorred. This twisted idea of morality is challenged by the protagonist of The Fountainhead, Howard Roark. Though selfishness can be broadly defined and can be harmful at times, Howard Roark exhibits a specific type of selfishness that does not seek to harm others, but to simply preserve the person 's ego and personal pursuit of success. The best way to define the nature and effectiveness of Howard Roark 's selfishness is through examining his interactions with other major characters and comparing their egos, integrity, and approaches to achievement. Peter Keating is an interesting character in that he tries to be selfish, but he has no actual sense of self. When Keating first speaks with Howard Roark, he asks Roark for advice on which career path he should take, to which Roark responds, ‘“If you want my advice, Peter,’ he said at last, ‘you 've made a mistake already. By asking me. By asking anyone. Never ask people. Not about your work. Don 't you know what you want? How can you stand it, not to know?’” (33). This line serves the dual purpose of highlighting a major flaw in Peter Keating 's

Towards the end of the novel, Ayn Rand writes “Only by living for himself was he able to achieve the things which are the glory of mankind. Such is the nature of achievement” (679). Howard Roark demonstrates Rand 's idea of real achievement perfectly by never compromising or making sacrifices in order to please others. All he ever gives is his honesty and the truest version of himself that there is. He never descends into greediness nor does he succumb to any version of altruism or selflessness that his society expects of him. He exhibits self-respect and true independence in every aspect of his life through the virtue of selfishness, which is what makes him a successful and