The Unfortunate Human Tendency to Conform
(An anlysis of Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead and a quote from Colin Wilson)
The much debated topic of the independent and dependent nature of human beings plays an interesting role in the theme and plot of Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead and is the main idea in the quote from Colin Wilson. Some argue that the group is redundant without first developing the individual. This is certainly Rand’s, and by extension Roark’s approach. The antagonist, Toohey promotes the group over the individual. Though it becomes clear that he might not fully believed this approach but simply use it for his own gain. At the end of act two, by stating he doesn’t think of Toohey at all, Roark contrasts the difference in the two types …show more content…
Wilson compared the average man to a cow who took whatever life threw at him without emotion. When the analogy is taken beyond the initial interpretation of man simply rolling with the punches, it can easily apply to Roark. Both Toohey and Roark worked hard and fought to make life what they wanted. I agree with Wilson, most of human nature is stuck asking why things happen to them and just accepting things as they are. Others understand that life is journey and one is meant to not only bare adversity but also thrive in the midst of hard times. The individuals who refuse to conform to the rest of humanity are either the ones who thrive or are misunderstood. Roark refused to conform to society in any way. Toohey followed the rules of human interaction and social structure. Though he controlled most game, there were rules he still had to follow. Roark didn’t care what other people thought of him, or if he had materialistic values. He was interested solely in living his life to his own standards. Toohey took the social rules people held him to as a means of getting what he wanted. Thus, he conformed and didn’t bat an eye at it. Roark on the other hand refused to conform to anyone’s standards. Roark truly defies the human nature presented in Wilson’s quote being the extraordinary to break the mold. Toohey reveals himself as an average man by Wilson’s standards when he conforms to societies standards of acceptable
(An anlysis of Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead and a quote from Colin Wilson)
The much debated topic of the independent and dependent nature of human beings plays an interesting role in the theme and plot of Ayn Rand’s Fountainhead and is the main idea in the quote from Colin Wilson. Some argue that the group is redundant without first developing the individual. This is certainly Rand’s, and by extension Roark’s approach. The antagonist, Toohey promotes the group over the individual. Though it becomes clear that he might not fully believed this approach but simply use it for his own gain. At the end of act two, by stating he doesn’t think of Toohey at all, Roark contrasts the difference in the two types …show more content…
Wilson compared the average man to a cow who took whatever life threw at him without emotion. When the analogy is taken beyond the initial interpretation of man simply rolling with the punches, it can easily apply to Roark. Both Toohey and Roark worked hard and fought to make life what they wanted. I agree with Wilson, most of human nature is stuck asking why things happen to them and just accepting things as they are. Others understand that life is journey and one is meant to not only bare adversity but also thrive in the midst of hard times. The individuals who refuse to conform to the rest of humanity are either the ones who thrive or are misunderstood. Roark refused to conform to society in any way. Toohey followed the rules of human interaction and social structure. Though he controlled most game, there were rules he still had to follow. Roark didn’t care what other people thought of him, or if he had materialistic values. He was interested solely in living his life to his own standards. Toohey took the social rules people held him to as a means of getting what he wanted. Thus, he conformed and didn’t bat an eye at it. Roark on the other hand refused to conform to anyone’s standards. Roark truly defies the human nature presented in Wilson’s quote being the extraordinary to break the mold. Toohey reveals himself as an average man by Wilson’s standards when he conforms to societies standards of acceptable