Individualism Vs. Collectivism In Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead

As Glenn Woiceshyn illustrates that “... individuals does not mean looting others to satisfy one’s desire...Individualism, not collectivism or altruism, is the root of benevolence and goodwill among men.” Ayn Rand philosophically declared these two distinct fundamental ways of living - individualism and collectivism- in her novel, The Fountainhead, as her themes. In Ayn Rand’s words, the theme is “individualism vs collectivism, not in politics but in men's souls”(708). The Fountainhead contains forms of Rand’s philosophical belief and her novel would envision the idea that “man’s ego is the fountainhead of human progress” (7). Her novel contrasts two different methods of approaching reality and achievement, including other people: “using one’s own mind to the conscientious best of …show more content…
Through their opposing appearances, dialogues, actions, and beliefs, Rand illustrates these themes - individualism and collectivism - and reveals how individualism leads to the triumphant success of first-handers and how collectivism leads to the downfall of the second-handers such as Peter Keating and Gail Wynand - who valued and believed that society should have a voice in their career decisions. Moreover, Rand's illustration of Roark’s honest morals, decision, and self-dedication of his mind led to his accomplishments of building his own dreams in his buildings, having a moral impact over society, and remaining the same throughout the world of socialism while Toohey’s immoral collectivism of controlling a weak individual led to his demise and not being on top of the world in