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Monday, January 12, 2009

Fountainhead #1

Please, respond to the following as you see Keating and what you believe motivates him to do what he does. Does he truly aspire to be a successful architect or is there something else? You must justify your thoughts. You will make your own comments THEN you will respond to someone elses thoughts. I DO NOT want to see you just agreeing or disagreeing with someone...I want to see your thoughts and how they apply to someone elses thoughts.

You must respond in full by February 6; after which this post will be closed for further postings.

Keating rises in his profession by two means: deception and manipulation. He is quite willing to to whatever he must in order to get a commission. He aspires to be successful as an architect, but the crucial point is that...

83 comments:

sarahbellanova_{: said...

Keating dose not want to be a successful architect. He only cares about pleasing his mom. She uses guilt to make his life exactly as she wants it to be. He is so brain washed that he has no self-drive to pursue his own dreams.

CALLiE ViCTORiA =]] said...

Keating has becomed a very successful architect. Whether or not he wants to be an architect is a different situation. The only reason he continued on with being one was because he wanted to please his mom. However, just because being an architect wasn't his dream, that still doesn't stop him from doing whatever he can possible to make sure that he will become the best the ever was. He will get people fired and even cause people to have strokes just because he wants to be in their shoes and wants to stand in their place and do what they did. He knows what he wants and he's going to do whatever he thinks he needs to get there.

Caitlynn said...

The only thing Keating cares about is that other people find him successful. He cares alot about what other people think about him...too much, I think. He doesn't care about the art part of architecture, he just cares about the fact that he is getting money and gaining fame for it. Not only does he want to eventually be head of Francon & Heyer (or now Fracon & Keating), he could care less about who he has to hurt to get there. Look at what happened to Heyer...Keating practically caused his stroke in the office that day. I find it really sad that he doesnt care about hurting people's feelings that much as long as he gets money out of it in the end.

Brad said...

Keating is a mad man that is motivated to do anything and everything to get to the top. Whether it is money, fame, or whatever, he just doesn't care as long as he looks the best in every situation. There is a single word that describes everything that I have just said about Keating and that is PRIDE! No, Keating doesn't care about BECOMING an architect, he wants to be the BEST architect! There is no in between for him.

TACO said...

Keating is very successful in what he does.Though he only does it to please others. His mom has pressured him into doing something that she has wanted him to do for his whole life. now all he knows is that he wants to be the best. he does whatever it takes to get to the top in the architect business.Even if it means cheating. He doesn't care about anybody but his fame. he hurts many people by using them and taking their place in the business to better himself. He is very smart. he knows what he wants in life and just how he's going to get it. he'll do whatever it takes to get there even if it means hurting his friends.

Little one said...

I would have to disagree with what is mostly said about keating by the others. I believe he does care, otherwise there would not such a internal conflict. Keating is always arguing with hisself. I believe that he sees what he is and does not care for it, but does not know how too change because he has never made a choice for himself.

Little one said...

Although keating is very sucessful in what he does, I would have to doubt that is what he wants. Keating is always comparing hisself to Roark. Roark is at the bottom of the food chain, but appears to be content with is. I believe that contentment is what Keating is trying to reach, he just does not know how to achieve it.

KiNSER© said...

I must agree with Blogger sarahbellanova_{: . Keating doesn't really think on his own he only cares what his mother and everyone else thinks. He is very manipulative and uses everyone he knows so that he can rise in the social standings.

Caitlynn said...

I agree with what TACO said< because Keating really does let his mom pressure him into doing what she wants him to do. He didn't even want to be an architect, he wanted to be an artist, but his mom told him that architects were better and made more money. He also does cheat off of other people, he has yet to make one original design of his own yet. If it wasnt for Roark he wouldnt have won that contest.

kaylanicole_class2010 said...

Keating is a very succesful person. He is a good son, was top of his class in school, and is becoming a very succesful architect. Keating will do everything he has to to get ahead in architecture.
Even though he is very succesful at what he does that is not his true dream. Keating wanted to be a artist. The only reason he became a architect is because of his mother. Everything that he has ever done is to please his mother.
When she doesn't get something that she wants she makes him feel guilty for it. After she makes him feel guilty he gives her whatever she wants.
Even though being a architect wasn't his dream he will do anything to be the best so that his mother will be proud of him.

kaylanicole_class2010 said...

I also agree with TACO.
The only reason he does anything is to please the people around him.
He became a architect to please his mother.
He won the contest to please his boss.
He built big buildings to try to please Roark.
He befriended certain people to try to please other people.
KEating never does anything to please himself.

KiNSER© said...

I agree with TACO. keating lets his mother influence him more than she really should. He wanted to marry Katie but as soon as his mother started mentioning how it might look to be with her he in a way changed his mind

alexxx. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
alexxx. said...

Keating is living his life only for success. He's the kind of character that would completely destroy a person for his own personal gain. The only person that he cares about pleasing would be his mother, though he mainly just feels guilty because of her; she makes him feel bad about the things in his life, so he compromises his decision to reflect hers.

Even though Keating cares for nothing but success, the success that he has earned wasn't really "earned" at all. He uses and manipulates people for his own personal gain.

alexxx. said...

I semi-disagree with Taco.

"He doesn't care about anybody but his fame."

Keating does in fact care about Catherine; some may think that it is for the wrong reasons, but he does show that he cares for her, and he does. I also believe that he cares for Dominique; even after Heyer died and Heyer's job was Keating's, he still expressed interest in Dominique. I feel that he is intrigued by her and, if he plays his cards right, he can not only get what he wants from her, but also have someone to care for.

Pidgeotto 1926 U.S. Open Golf Championship Party! said...

I believe that Keating is born plagued with mediocrity and weakness, therefore never really having a chance at greatness. Unlike Roark, Keating faces suffering by his own shortcomings, due to the facts he constantly denies his own lack of skill, and thinks himself too good for a modest, somewhat milquetoast life. He aspires to be a superstar but, as with most of the characters in "The Fountainhead", the true virtue of an individual ultimately determines their outcome in life.

And I will go ahead and agree with Caitlynn's statement, as she is basically highlighting what I am trying to say: Keating is merely a personified example of pure lust for popularity and greed.

Brad said...

So far I agree with everyone who thinks that Keating wants popularity more than anything. There is no doubt in the world that Keating would do the impossible just to get to the top.

Jessie faye said...

I believe that keating knows how to be successful and could be great in many things. He cares about what his mother thinks and wants to please her. Keating does care about some people in his life but he just uses most people to get higher in his career. His mother has taught him that because she manipulates him into doing what she thinks is best, not for him but for his social position in life.
Keating does care enough about Catherine that he doesn't want to use her, so he asks her not to introduce her uncle to him.

Jessie faye said...

I would have to agree with Little One because Keating always goes back to Roark and asks his opinion and he always wants him like what he does. But because of his mother he continues on the path that he is on.
I don't think that Keating really knows how to care for people, yes its true that he cares for catherine and his mother but not to many people in his life have showed him how to care for other peoples feelings.

MiKaLa = ) said...

Keating is very successful in architect, but he is really out for glory. Notice that he hasn't done one building himself without the help of ironically, Roark. It's not about the money or success but the plain fact that he wants all the glory, and wants to be the best, and will use anyone to get to the top.

MiKaLa = ) said...

I agree with everyone who has posted about Keating's mother having a major influence on his choices in life. His mother is not worried about Keatings true happiness but his postion and social standard. For instance his mother doesn't want Keating and Catherine to be married not because she doesn't like her as a person, but because she is not on the same social class as Keating.

AlyMo4499 said...

I believe that Keating is successful in a professional state. He started out as little more than an apprentice working for the top archetecture compony of the time and worked his way up to partner. He did this not by being the greatest but by working people.Which he is very good at.
However, i don't think he is successful in anything but his career. His relationships with all the women in his life are twisted and unnatural. Especially the one with his mom. I believe Peter is the way he is because of his mother. That's why he manipulate people and is good at it, becuase he's been Pursueded to do her bidding all his life. I agree with Kayla and most of everyone else that keating was successful at his job.

sarahbellanova_{: said...

I disagree with Pidgeotto 1926 U.S. Open golf championship party Keating was not born with a ‘plague’ because like everyone else he could of said no. He always and still has a chance at greatness.

Unknown said...

Peter Keating cares only about what other people think. Keating is on a quest for the top and will take out anyone who is in his way. Keating is competitive, he has to be the best. In his struggle to take over his profession Peter Keating deceptive and manipulative. He gains friendship and trust from the people around him, then throws them under the bus. Peter will go as far killing Heyer to make room for him as partner. In the beginning Pete had no desire to become an architect, but the opinion of his mom convinces him to choose a diffrent path in his life. Peter has no real opinions of his own, he relies on what other people think and what will make people like him. Peter is insecure and is easily influnced. Pete uses people in his life to get what he wants.

Becca!!! said...

Keating wants to be a successful architect, but not because he loves it. He wants to be successful because he wants to please his mom. Keating's true dream is to be an artist. But he doesnt apply that love to architecture. But he does have a drive to be the best.

Becca!!! said...

"I believe that Keating is born plagued with mediocrity and weakness, therefore never really having a chance at greatness."

I disagree with pidgeotto 1926 US Open Golf Championship in that Keating is not the only one born into mediocrity and weakness. We ALL are born into a mediocre world. Why does that matter? Roark was born into the same mediocre world as Keating. So was Dominique and so was Toohey. It is the events that happened in their lives and the mentality that they have...and some self assuredness that makes one great. You cant say that Keating isn't great because he was born in "mediocrity and weakness" because the reality is, we all are.

Kashera*22 said...

Keating does not truly aspire to be an architect. He only does it because it is what's expected of him. However he will do anything to be the best architect, even if that means stepping on the toes of others. In my opinion, Keating could care less about the true being of an architect. He really cares about what others think of him. He wants everyone to see him as a sucessful architect, even if that means manipulating, lying, cheating etc.

Kashera*22 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kashera*22 said...

Brad stated that Keating has a lot of pride. That is totally true. Keating cant stand to be at the bottom of anyting because of his pride. Keating is so obsessed with the status quo and being the perfect architect that he doesnt even look at what his actions may be doing to others. He just thinks about what he wants and THINKS he deserves and then him and all his pride find a victim and go get it. Very well stated Brad!

fanatic said...

Keating is motivated only by his obsession to be better than any other architect and to not let down his mother. Though Keating does have his own opinions and thoughts he is so concerned about what his mother and society will think that he rarely ever goes with his own decisions but goes with what they believe is right. Like for example Keating wanted to be an Artist but his mother wanted him to be an architect because it gets better pay and fame so to please his mother he becomes an architect. Now that's all he is worried about is what people think of him. Keating is always doubting himself and has to get other peoples opinions on his work before he shows the finished product.

Pidgeotto 1926 U.S. Open Golf Championship Party! said...

I disagree with everyone who disagrees with Mr. Pidgeotto 1926 U.S. Open Golf Championship Party!

Sims2010 said...

Peter Keating is motivated by his ambition. Peter did aspire to be the most successful architect, but when he made it to the top he found that his life was missing something. He learned that he needed people to keep him going.

Sims2010 said...

...he cannot become successful in his life while becoming the most successful architect. When at the top he worries too much about what other people think about him, so he can't do what he truly wishes to do, like marrying Catherine.

Danielle said...

Keating does not truly aspire to be a successful architect. He wants to be successful because that is what others want for him. If you remember, in the beginning of the book, Peter wanted to be an artist, not an architect but his mother convinced him otherwise. Keating is a people-pleaser and has no true identity of his own. It doesn't matter if he was an architect or in any other profession, he would want people to see him as successful because that's what he thinks they want.

Danielle said...

I agree with alexxx. I think that Keating would and has destroyed anyone in his path to popularity.

Unknown said...

Keating is what most people consider a "momma's boy". He is constantly manipulated by his mother to do what she wants making him think that it's what he wants. That is the whole reason he becomes an architect. He also does everything he can to get what he wants even if it means someone's life.

V.MARiEE said...

Keating does not want to be a successful architect, but only to be successful in others eyes. What motivates him is the fact of his popularity and the thoughts of others. To be the best in what he does and to be recognized for it. Easily manipulated, Keating, only cares about is rising to the top not caring what he gots to give up for it.

Unknown said...

Little One says they disagree with the others and I see where they are coming from because Mrs.Keating has such an influence on Peter that she drives him to being such selfish and heartless man. Everything he does is for his own benefit to try to get where his mother wants him to.

V.MARiEE said...

I agreee with Danielle. He is easily pusuaded. He only wants people to see him as successful.

NElCY said...

Keating always wanted to be a great architecht because that is what his mom encouraged him to do.The people around him motivate him to do everything he can or event what he can't to be the greatest architect ever.He does everything to please other people not himself. Now that he has everything and architect could ever want he is not happy because that is not what he truly wanted, that is what the public wanted him to do. He pleased everybody but himself.

NElCY said...

I completely agree with Danielle, Peter does what he does to please others. He only cares what the public thing about him.

CHRiSTAKAY:) said...

The other day in class, we talked about individuality and living life not to please others. I don't think this applies to Keating. He is very good at what he does, but it does not seem like he does it for himself. It doesn't even seem like he likes it at all. Although, he WILL do what it takes to get the job done or get what he wants.

kylt2010 said...

Keating does whatever his mom wants him to he is manipulated very easily and used all throughout the story. He says that he wanted to be an artist in the book but his mom wanted him to be an architect so he did.

fanatic said...

I agree with Jessie Faye in the sense that Keating has learned his manipulative ways from his mother manipulating him and using him for what she wants him to be. Keating uses this same technique in getting what he wants from whoever he can take it from. He doesn't care about hurting people along the way all he cares about is improving his social status and popularity.

*Kay-Jones* said...

Keating is motivated by his mother, she had his life planned out for him to be an architect. But Keating allowed his mother to run him, I also believe that his mother is the reason he is the way he is, she contolled him. Now he believes he has the right to control anyone he wants too.

*Kay-Jones* said...

I have to agree with Christa, Keating does what he does to better himself. But he also does it for his mother. He doesn't seem to like his work he does, but when he gets the job done, he is pleased with the out come. Keating is hard to understand at times, but in the end he is only about himself.

alibee* said...

I think that Keating does aspire to be a great architect but not because its what he wants but because its what other people want for him. The only reason Keating is even a architect in the first place is because he is so easily influenced by what others want, he does whatever anyone tells him to do to make them happy instead of making himself happy. If he had done what he wanted he would be an artist, but now he is stuck being an architect and living the dream his mom has for him. Keating also loves being in the spotlight, which drives him to do whatever it takes to be at the top. He will do anything for the fame!

alibee* said...

i agree with what christa said about individuality. Keating is not a individual at all instead he is a combination of what everyone around him wants him to be. He will do whatever it takes to please hes peers, which is one of the reasons he strives to be the BEST!

bsebllfreak5 said...

I believe that Keating aspires to be a successful architect, but on the way to something greater. He likes the fame that he gets for creating these buildings but he likes that he's good at what he does and that people want him to build their buildings as well. He strives to be better than everybody and he tries extremely hard to achieve his goal of becoming the most famous architect in the world, which he would gain an extreme amount of fame in the process.

bsebllfreak5 said...

I agree with Brad, Keating is a mad man in willing to do whatever he must to get to the top. He doesn't want to be known as "one" of the best architects, he want to be "the" best.

Unknown said...

I agree with Callie. Keating dosnt want to be an architect, but since his mom made him Peter might as well try and be the best. Peter is plenty smart and capable of surpassing anyone in his way, and this is what makes Peter Keating famous in his profession. He uses the people around him.

Unknown said...

to acheive greatness.

Amberly said...

I believe that Keating is pressured into becoming a successful architect. He does not understand that this is not his dream, it is mothers dream. He will do anything to be at the top so it would only make sense that he doesn't care at all about the people that he hurts to get there. He is also pressured by the media, and his superiors.

Unknown said...

Keating is good at being an architect from his experience and desire for art. He merely stays in the architectural world to please his menical mother and to gain social status. He cares way too much about other people's judgement towards him and therefore, everyone around him impacts his descisions radically.
I believe he will do anything it takes to gain "success" in the business world...even selling what he loves.

Unknown said...

I agree with bsebllfreak5.
Keating doesn't want to go down in rememberence as "one" of the best, but "the" best in architecture. And he will hurt anyone who gets in his way to achieve that goal. Which shows that he is a very determined person, but not for the reasons everyone thinks of when those words are used to describe someone...his motives are different. I believe he is scared to "fail"(which in his eyes is 'not being the best'), becasue he fears his mother and her reaction upon him not living up to her expectations.

Hannah Kate said...

Keating is a people pleaser. The only reason he keeps chasing after archetecture is because his Mom controls everything that he does. His Mother is his motivation to his success. If he is loving what he is doing but his Mom disapproves than he begins not to like it anymore. He lives through what his Mother wants him to do.

Hannah Kate said...

I agree with how Caitlynn says that Keating doesn't care what he has to do to others in the way of getting his success. It's really disturbing and shows that he is a selfish person only caring about where he will be in the future and not worrying about what he is doing to others on his way.

snorlaxxx said...

First Response - While Keating may aspire to be a successful architect, he only truly cares about the word ''successful''. He believes that if he can make the most money, and become ''friends'' with all of the right people, and kiss all of the right butts, he will have true success in life. But that is only what he is willing to do openly, under the surface, he is willing to kill a guy, sell his wife, and give up all happiness, just so he can give off the air of happiness and success to other people.



Second Response - I actually semi-disagree with Brad, yes Keating is willing to do anything to the top, but I wonld't call him a mad man at all. Yes, he sells his wife unflinchingly, but the suffering that he endures after it shows that it really did take an effect on him, and he is a normal person. Second of all, when Heyer dies, he assumes the full responsibility to himself, as any person would have done, and the fact that he received the full inheritence made him hate himself even more for doing what he did.

Shenanigans said...

Keating doesn't truly aspire to be a successful architect. He aspires to be the best at whatever he does. That just happens to be architecture because that's what his mom wants. He's never had the courage to stand up to his mother and tell her what he really wants to do, so that's why he is where is his in his life. I don't think that he cares at all about being an architect, but people think he is great at it, so that's what he's going to continue to do.


I agree with Kashera when she said that Keating doesn't want to be an architect, he does it because it is expected of him. He is so far deep in it that there's no way he could back out now, and he knows it. His mother expects him to be the best architect, everyone who has ever heard of him in the book expects him to be the best, and now he expects himself to be the best.

Ben said...

Keating never really had a personal desire to become and architect, he was forced into it because his mom wanted him to, and pretty much forced him into it.

Ben said...

What Keating actually desires is success. To be rich, famous, popular... at any cost. He thinks nothing of using others to further his own goals and would sell his soul to the devil to gain what he desires. Ironically even though Keating has what he always wanted he is the least happy out of all the main characters.

CHRiSTAKAY:) said...

I agree with Hannah saying that Keating is very selfish and does not care about what happens to other prople. As long as he gets what he wants, he is happy.

CAMi =)) said...

Although Peter Keating has become an architect, it is not on his on will. Being an architect is not pleasing himself, he is an architect because he wants to please his mom. Keating is not the type of guy that wants to make himself happy and do what HE thinks is right for himself. Keating wants to please and make other people happy. Although Peter spends most of his time pleasing other people, he will do what he can to get the word out that he is successful and a great architect.

CAMi =)) said...

I agree with the popularity thing. Keating will destroy anyone or anything to get into the world of everyone thinking he his popular/successful or even the best at what he does.

Luli said...

Keating is so determind to succeed that he doesn't care who he hurts, steps on or even kills to get to where he wants to be. He rises to the very top eventually, but not by honest means at all. even though he achieves materialistic success and power, his life is a hollow one. An empty hole with no substance. He is so blinded with the promiss of success he even gives up a real chance at happiness that he could have had with Katie and exchanges it for a hollow marriage that will only cause him grief in the end.

Luli said...

Lauren was right in saying that every one around him determin what he does in that all he desires is to please other people in order to climb even higher on the ladder of success. unlike Roark who couldnt care any less about what other people think of him. Keating believes he will become stronger by doing what the "big" people want him to do, and this is true to a degree, but it will actually cause him to become weaker, and weaker.

TACO said...

i would have to agree with Caitlynn on this one. Keating is all about the money . He also only cares about what other people think about him. He worries to much about others thinking of him in a bad way, that he does everything in his will to be the best. Like caitlynn said he destroyed Heyer.He has desroyed his career and everthing he loves about architecture, and most importantly his life. Like caitlynn said he practically caused the stroke on purpose. he doesn't care about destroying others.

Amberly said...

I agree with sarahbellanova about Keating. His mom has always told him what to do and she is the only one that he listens to. She has brainwashed him so bad that he has no one else to turn to except her.

SD said...

Peter Keating is onlyinterested in success and he is willing to do anything to achieve greatness. At one point he uses 'scare tactics' to give Francon's partner, Lucius Heyer, a stroke so he can have his share in the company.

SD said...

Blogger SarahBellanova is correct as well, Keating cares a great deal about his mother and because of this he abandons Catherine 'Katie' Halsey on their planned day of marriage because she convinces him that he would be better with Dominique Francon. His mother's motive is that Ms. Francon is very wealthy and the union would all but seal his place in the firm, Francon and Heyer.

Livia Rodrigues said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Brandon said...

I think peter keating does not truly thrive for being a sucessful architect. He only wants to be popular with his peers and please his mom.


I agree with Caitlynn's opinion because I think peter was just doing it for the social sucess and not for the architectural sucess

Livia Rodrigues said...

I agree with Kashera when she says that Keating does not truly aspire to be an architect. In my opinion, he wants to be sucessfull, famous and he is ready to do whatever he has to do to be famous. He is the kind of person who manipulates, who does everything in his power to get what he wants. He really cares about what other people say about him, and what they think about him.

Aut Vincere Aut Mori said...

Keating wants to be seen as "The best there ever was" and he will do anything and everything to get there. He doesnt care about architecture at all. He cares about getting to the top and staying there. I think Brad's comment goes with what I'm saying very well in saying that pride is what Keating is all about.

Trent said...

Peter Keating wants to be the best there ever was but for others around him. He really dosent care about what he thinks about himself but about what others think. He has been manipulated his hole life and dosent know any different.

Trent said...

I would have ta agree with Caitlyyn that he only cares what other people think. He dosent care about the Architecture just that other people see him as successful.

BostonKid said...

A part of keating wants to be and is a successful architect but mostly its his mother who wants him to be a builder of the arts.In the begining Keating didnt even now if he wanted to be an Architect, all he knew was that it was what his mother had chosen for him to do.Since he knew that he could not dissapoint his mother he decided to become the best architect there ever was.keating did everything form getting people fired to even causing the death of one of his superiors to get ahead in the arcitectual society.Another driving force behind Peter Keatings success waas Howard Roark.Keating wanted to show the world hat he was better than Roark even though he knew at heart that he wasnt.Keating alson wanted the approval of the one woman that he could not get his hands on...Dominque Francon.No matter what he did it seemed as if she didnt notice and he could notr understand why she did not have any fellings for him.

BostonKid said...

I beleve that callie and I share the same views.It is at question wether Keating wanted to be an Architect or not.However,at what ever he does hes for sure to do better thab anybody eles and he will do what ever it takes to reack that.

Stephie said...

Keating does most to the things he does, only to please other people so that he may rise to the top. The matter of what he wants to be in the first place will never exsist becasue he dosen't have the power to over ride his pride.

Stephie said...

Keating's mother is his "dictator" in many ways. She tells him what job he is to have, who he should marry, and what he should do. If he trys to take things in his own hands she pulls guilt trips on him and eventually convinces him to do things her way.

CALLiE ViCTORiA =]] said...

I agree with Hannah about Keating being a people pleaser. The only reason he has become an achitect is because it was what his mom wanted. Keatings mom didn't like Catherine and he ended up not being with her for his moms sake. Keating loved doing art, but once again his mother didn't approve.

Hollywood. said...

The Fountainhead contains a world in a fictional dimension. Regardless of the time period the novel is set in, it cannot apply more to this particular era in American history. Roark is fictional. I have never met an individual like him and I can’t say I expect to, though I would love to be proven wrong. Roark is what Rand imagines a perfect man to be.

That being said, the other characters are the type of individuals I meet every day. They personify the average, the masses—the “substitute people.” (I hope someone catches that reference.) Keating is a man who not only replicates architecture styles others designed he is a chameleon. He becomes and acts and thinks the way others want him to. He wants success because his mother does. He designs buildings the same way everyone else designs them. He depends on other minds to think for him. He does not want success. He does not want to be an architect. He wants to be loved and accepted no matter how much he loses himself in the process.

Hollywood. said...

Laura’s response to Lauren’s comment basically covers my belief that Keating is controlled by what the world wants and that his actions will destroy the small amount of originality he has left.

However, I can honestly say that I disagree with basically everyone else’s view of Keating. It really disappoints me, but I can’t say it surprises me. We, as a class and as the leaders of our class, must know how to read critically. On the surface, Keating could be called a “madman” who desires success because his mother wants him to, but that is not what he is. Keating is a weak individual, someone who lets others make his decisions because that is what is accepted within society. He has no soul. He has no idea what he wants.

The problem is, we are all like Keating in a sense, but do not take it as criticism. This is exactly what Rand wants us to see and feel and change in society—within ourselves. This is what the novel is all about.

The Fountainhead has done for me what I define a good book should do for readers—it has made a statement and influenced my own thoughts and my life. And I can only hope that others in this class can relate to such a feeling.