Reading+Reflections+Fountainhead

9/26/09- With this novel Rand really want to show the contrast between the characters Roark and Keating. In a way she uses both characters as foil characters representing each others flaws. For example, we see Roark being a very straight minded and knows what he wants. We especially see this when he decides to take the job with Cameron, the once famous modern building designer who is now run down and barely making it by in life himself. This is important because it shows that Roark is not looking for the initial success but rather looking for the knowledge of the once "brilliant" designer. On the other hand, we see Keating taking the job with Francon, the new and extremely well known designer who of course we find out is only the veneer to the true brilliant designer Stengel. With completely different paths, Rand almost makes it difficult not to side with Roark. For instance, in life we are always raised to want to strive to be the best at what we do. We are born to believe that happiness is the key to life and not money. This is the view of Howard Roark. Unfortunately, this view is not very realistic. For one, a person cant simply survive life just with happiness. In the world in which we live in, money has become the defining factor with everything. This is what Rand portrays Keating to believe in. His conformity to the way in which society flows, meaning living life for money, is what makes him complete opposite of Roark's character. Nevertheless, we see that Keatings attitude is very unsure with everything he does bring the question. Whose life would you prefer to live? Thats what essentially Rand try's to emphasis is the first 200 pages.