Keith Jones’s Reviews > The Fountainhead > Status Update

Whoa, whoa, whoa! When someone is found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity, they don't walk away free. They go for psychiatric evaluation and spend time in a mental institution. I don't think The Fountainhead understands this point.

And my library loan ended, again. Now I have to wait a couple of weeks before finishing this turkey, which is probably a good thing. Book really is a slog, and it’s gotten really stereotypically melodramatic. However, this book is old enough that it could actually be one of the sources of the stereotype, which doesn’t automatically make it good.

You can think for yourself rather than blindly follow public opinion and also be against dynamiting buildings. These are not mutually exclusive concepts. The general public realizing that Roark is a violent psychopath who likes to blow crap up doesn’t make them sheep.

Saying that “thinking for yourself rather than blindly following other’s opinions means that you are selfish” kind-of stretches the definition of selfish. While technically a true statement, it does not automatically follow that you must be selfish about everything. You can think for yourself and also help other people. It sounds like you’re trying to justify the fact you are mean and horrible to other people.

What a load of cock and balls! That’s exactly the kind-of selfishly entitled I don’t want to help other people because I already give so much of my mind rich-man’s bullpucky I would expect from the likes of you, Wynand. And, of course, Roark agrees with you. He’s a violent psychopath.

I’m with you on the first part, Roark, subsidies for low-income housing should not be exclusively at the expense of the middle-class; however, I think your anger is misplaced. You shouldn’t be angry at low-income people for needing subsidies. You should be angry at the wealthy people for refusing to be equitably taxed themselves.

Peter Keating remains The Fountainheads most underrated tragic hero. He’s started painting on the sly so nobody can take it away from him. That’s wonderful. Developing your artistry is going to be the hardest, most painful thing you’ve ever done in your life. Keep with it. I’m rooting for you, man. Seriously, why isn’t Peter the main character of this book?

You got it right the second time, Peter. You actually saw Gail and Dominique for the flaming balls of contempt and pure unbridled hate that they are. While--okay--they do have shriveled up husks of souls, there’s not much left of them or their humanity.

I hate to break it to you Dominique, but Peter has a soul. He’s shallow, sure, and afraid to express an original opinion of his own, but he’s got a soul. You, Dominique, the poor damaged goth kid that you are, it’s debatable if you have one.

Peter Keating remains the most sympathetic character. Dominique was finally able to drive Peter’s horrible overwhelming control-freak of a mother away, which is good. If Dominique wasn’t so damaged from Roark’s abuse, she might recognize Peter’s artistic soul and help him overcome the disenfranchisement and disempowerment that has been heaped upon him.