Compromise In The Fountainhead

The socialistic idea of compromise has always been a part of human history. To achieve mutual goals, to end conflict, to pursue happiness, there has always seemed to be a need to agree on terms that equally benefit both parties. Ayn Rand, the creator of the philosophy of Objectivism and author of the philosophical novel, The Fountainhead views compromise differently than it is traditionally defined by society. Society says that compromise is generally a settlement of a dispute by both sides making concessions, and Rand affirms this ideal, only however in situations “ only in regard to concretes, or particulars, implementing a mutually accepted basic principle, that one may compromise.” Basically, the only compromises that are “moral” by her definition, are those that are rational. This poses a question to the reader- What system of morality does Rand follow? To answer this, it’s best to define what a compromise is, according to the author. According to Rand, a true compromise is not about subjecting oneself to a level of inferiority. Rand says “ Accepting a lesser job than one had wanted is not a “compromise.” Taking orders from one’s employer on how to do the work which one is hired is not a “compromise.” Instead, compromise has more to do with not backing

down from what you believe. In The Fountainhead, the basic premise of the novel is the protagonist, Howard Roark, facing opposition from those who hate his genius and wish to profit off of it. Roark stays true to his individuality and refuses to falter under the pressure put on him by society; Roark refuses to compromise his integrity to please society.The difference between a societal compromise and the type of compromise that Rand presents is that the a societal compromise deals with a “concrete, specific wish,” while a Randian compromise pertains to the idea of “moral treason.” This is the definition of Rand's view of a “true” compromise, a betrayal of personal ideas- Spitting in the face of one’s own individuality. Compromise is a fault in integrity, not a choice or a preference. According to Rand, “There can be no compromise on moral principles.” If people continually compromises the core of who they are and what they will be, their life will be an endless, personal hell.
The driving force behind Rand’s view of life, as Objectivism, is the self-worth and liberty of the individual. Only the individual can make his or her own choices, only the person can truly decide what is best for them. This fundamental philosophy of distinctiveness of character is made real in the life and sufferings of Howard Roark, and his female counterpart, Dominique Francon. At certain points in their personal lives and professional careers, they were forced to make a decision- These decisions ultimately demanded only but one thing from them: Their sense of individualism; their moral compass, the only real and true way to happiness. For example, when offered the option to return back Stanton Institute of Technology in exchange for architectural designs that betrayed his own visions, Roark chose to continue on his own path rather than betray what he truly believed in, even when told by the Dean of Students that “ we can only attempt, respectfully, to repeat [From the great masters of architecture].” Roark’s best line through the whole encounter is very simple, but very profound; “why?” This is the question that every who is facing a decision that puts into jeopardy their integrity of character:”why?” The old saying goes that integrity is “doing the right thing even when nobody is watching.” The essential message of this line is correct, except that a person should choose to maintain their integrity, regardless of what other people see, good or bad. In any given situation, a person should determine their “why,” for the purpose of maintaining their integrity.
Even when people make the effort to stay true to themselves, it isn’t always as glamorous or as easy as it may sound. For example, when the selection committee of the Manhattan Bank Company posed a “minor change” to Roark’s design, it must certainly must have been painful for Roark to refuse, and ultimately lose the commission all together. Roark wanted the building badly, as the third person narrator says “ A great deal more was said by the three men. Roark barely heard it. He was thinking of the first bite of machine into earth that begins an excavation (194).” From what the reader already knows about about Roark, however, is that he is very true to what he believes in, and he makes this clear when later he tells a confidant “I don’t want to think. Not their way (197).” The temptation was there, but for those who are as self-assured as Howard Roark, any question of moral integrity can be dismissed with a simple no- and life goes on.
The virtue of personal integrity, when one lives his/her life without sacrificing their essence of self on the Altar of Societal Gain, is the essential message of The Fountainhead. Howard Roark lives his life in such a way that who he is and what he believes in are never lost to “second handers.” This way of life is not only practical for Roark, but it is also practical for every unique person on this earth. Everyone who was ever born was made differently from everyone else, genetically and socially. All people look different than each other and think differently, and have their own exclusive set of life experiences. What Rand encourages one to do is to harness this uniqueness for one’s own good. It should be noted however, that Objectivism should not be confused with perfection. In The Fountainhead, Gail Wynand loses hope for the way of life that Roark leads; One of integrity and self determination. After allowing the Board of Directors of his newspaper to print articles that would appeal to the public but not his own beliefs, Wynand realizes that he made a terrible mistake. “ You had better give in....” “All right” (689). After allowing the Board to take control of the paper, Wynand goes into a depression and refuses to ever be friends with Roark again, out of shame. Wynand loses hope when he loses his integrity. This part of the book is the only one that truly confused me. Why did Wynand despair the way he did? I aspire to believe that everyone always has another chance. Just because a person has an occasional lapse of integrity, even a major one, doesn’t automatically mean that they can never get it back. By making daily decisions to make retribution for what you have done, a person should be forgiven by others and by himself. In this way, everyone can maintain a lifestyle of devotion to one’s own convictions, in order to have a happy and meaningful existence.
In The Fountainhead, Ayn Rand demonstrates how one can maintain one’s integrity and live a life that lacks the self-torture of senseless selflessness.

In all circumstances, Howard Roark lives his life in such a way to pursue what he desires; Not to please others, ( which proves to be impossible) but to gratify himself. The one who is different from everyone else (which is everyone), the one who brings something new to the table, the one who loves to create, the one who marches to the beat of his own drummer can finds comfort and insight in the simple message of The Fountainhead- “ Throughout the centuries there were men who took steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own

vision”(710).