Critical Essays on Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead, by Emre Gurgen, shows readers how The Fountainhead is the greatest American novel of all time. Because it links the creative spirit of Americans to the progress of human civilization. By showing readers that human beings advance as a species because of the efforts of people who are not second handers. Creators, innovators, and discovers, who move society forward—who fuel the engine of progress—because they follow their own ideas and insights instead of relying on what others think and believe. 

Thus, to analyze the Fountainhead’s meaning of American individualism—specifically how egoism, selfishness, and uniqueness, leads to human progress— Gurgen’s first essay—titled How the Fountainhead Expresses America’s Founding Values—shows readers how a tough looking jury of twelve free-thinking Americans individuals acquit Roark for blowing-up a governmental housing project. Since, it was not designed according to Roark’s blueprints. Even though he had a contract with the government—through Peter Keating—giving Roark ultimate design authority. However, because the government alters Roark’s design by adding several distortions, he destroys Cortlandt Homes. Rather than see his building disfigured. Since, Roark cannot sue the government, due to the doctrine of Sovereign Immunity, which says that the government cannot be sued by citizens, during its normal course of duty. Thus, this sovereign immunity not only shields government builders of low-income housing projects it descends from the British idea that “the king can do no wrong.” Which, in The Fountainhead, generally means that Roark cannot sue the U.S. government for liability for their official actions. 

So, to get justice, Roark chooses a hard-looking jury, made-up of “two executives of industry, two engineers, a mathematician, a truck driver, a bricklayer, an electrician, a gardener, and three factory workers” (707). Logical Americans who unanimously decide that Roark deserves to be paid and valued for his work, just like they do (707). For this jury likes the American values Roark expresses in his Cortlandt speech. Namely, that America is a land where people are free to work, act, think, and behave, according to their own best judgment, without undue governmental, social, and interpersonal interference. A land where a person’s individual architectural rights will be honored. 

Evidently, Roark’s moving courtroom speech, about the sanctity of the creative mind, is successful because it asks these jurors to “rediscover their own Americanness.” (Den Uyl). To “search their own consciences for the truth that lies within them.” (Den Uyl). Thus, because Roark appeals to American values to clear him of any wrong doing, the jury’s delivers Roark a “not guilty” verdict. Since, this jury thinks that Roark deserves to be paid and valued for his work, under the terms of his contract. Thus, Roark’s acquittal, reaffirms the basic-wisdom of free-thinking American individuals through juris prudence. 

Another way Gurgen shows readers how Ayn Rand expresses Individualism in The Fountainhead is by analyzing a construction worker named Mike Donnigan. Because he is a unique American individual, with his own distinctive being. For Mike bases his identity on what he thinks himself. Not on what his co-workers, bosses, or fellow construction guilders say is so. Since, Mike uses his mind, to the best of his ability, to evaluate people, situations, and events objectively. According to facts, evidence, and proofs related to them. Based on what he sees himself. Thus, because Mike makes up his mind for himself—based on what his eyes tell him—he thinks that Roark is not “a stuck-up, stubborn, lousy bastard,” as Roark’s cite supervisor claims (86). But rather that Roark makes friends with people if he thinks they can help him build better. This is why Mike realizes that Roark associates with people not because they have money, status, power, and prestige. But because they are worthy human beings who can help him build well. As such, Roark drinks beers with Mike at a basement speak-easy. Where Mike tells Roark “his favorite tale of how he had fallen five stories when a scaffolding gave way under him; [and] Roark speaks of his days in the building trades.” (86). If Roark thought it beneath him to befriend a working man who shares his passion for building he would not have gone to a pub with Mike. But, he does. And, Mike loves him for it. For Mike realizes that Roark befriends people not because they are rich, or powerful, or influential, or well-connected.  But because they have good characters. 

Another way Gurgen’s book shows readers how The Fountainhead expresses the American ethical theory of life—which says that the highest good for man consists in realizing and fulfilling his full potential, so he can actualize his ideal or real self—is shown when Mike Donnigan travels around the country in his “ancient Ford” truck building how he wants to build with Roark (86). Since, working with Roark on a series of matchless structures—like the Heller House, for example, or the Aquitania Hotel, for instance—reinforces Mike’s identity. Since, constructing magnificent buildings with Roark imbues Mike with a feeling of pride and accomplishment for the great creative work that he can do. 

Further, Gurgen’s book examines how The Fountainhead’s American reading public praised the story for connecting to their sense of what it means to be a good American and a good human being. For middle-class fans from all class backgrounds, businessmen from all social strata, lawyers from all walks of life, industrialists from all circumstances, students from different schools of thought, and soldiers from different marshal ranks, all loved The Fountainhead. For they all felt that the novel inspired them to achieve great things in their own lives. By exercising their unique individual wills to realize their own singular goals. Accordingly, cadets, privates, airmen, lieutenants, enlisted men, hotel owners, merchants, congressmen, senators, writers, journalists, novelists, literary agents, artists, and students, of every strip and variety, felt that The Fountainhead was a great work of American literature. 

American readers felt this way because they thought that The Fountainhead encouraged Americans to fully discard the doctrine of altruism and self-sacrifice as an ideal, so they could find a different positive faith in humanity. Also, because it helped them clarify their views of their own lives, thereby aiding them in their moral decisions. Since, reading The Fountainhead gave them hope when they felt unhappy. Because it provided emotional fuel for individualist writers, so they did not feel so intellectually lonely. Also, because the story’s individualistic ideals equipped university students with the intellectual ammunition they needed to face their forthcoming collectivist college years. Thereby, reinforcing people’s values by reaffirming their individuality. For many minority voices were stimulated by The Fountainhead. Since, they were in complete sympathy with Ayn Rand’s ideas of individualism. Since, the story’s hero, Howard Roark, represents individualistic qualities that these readers could admire and aspire to themselves. For Rand’s Objectivist philosophy, as shown through her characters, defended people’s right to make (and retain) their own just profits. By representing characters making honest money in a capitalist democracy. Further, American readers loved reading The Fountainhead because it supported their work ethic. By depicting many characters working 7 days a week, for 10 hours, or more, a day. They also loved the story, because it claims that one’s own industry, productivity, truth, and vision are the means by which they advance their lives. Lastly, many Americans persuaded themselves to read Rand’s book, since they wanted to know where Ayn Rand drew her ideological strength from. So, they could choose a profession that meant as much to them as writing The Fountainhead did for Ayn Rand. 

Specifically, American soldiers felt that The Fountainhead justified why they fought in World War II.  To protect their civil liberties. By not only showing troopers what a free society looks like but also by showing soldiers how a free nation becomes a dictatorship. This is why after many bombing raids by the United States’ armed forces, “air force pilots would gather around a candle and read passages from The Fountainhead.” (Ralston). To remind themselves that they were fighting to protect their own individual freedoms. From the encroachments of the evil axis powers, who were trying to turn them into exploited slaves, with no right to the fruits of their own freedom, including their own private property. In fact, “one soldier [even] said that he would have felt much better if he thought that the war was being fought for the ideals of The Fountainhead.” (Ralston). For most soldiers felt that if America fell to the military, socialist, fascist, or theocratic dictatorships, perched on its ideological doorstep, then it would be impossible for them to live free lives as dignified human beings. In-line with their own individual truths, visions, and life-paths. Thus, American soldiers celebrated The Fountainhead. Because it reminded them of what a free nation looks like, and why it should be protected. 

Next, Gurgen examines how The Fountainhead not only drew in American readers by dramatizing American human progress but also how it attracted international readers, as well. Who were likewise activated by Rand’s depiction of universal human values, such as integrity, productiveness, honesty, independence, reason, purpose, and self-esteem. Since, foreign readers living in other countries also wanted to understand how innovation moves life forward. Such a foreign call for Ayn Rand’s straight talk, then, resulted in The Fountainhead being translated into 25 languages—Albanian; Bulgarian; Chinese; Croatian; Chezch; Danish; Dutch; French; German; Greek; Hebrew; Icelandic; Italian; Japanese; Mongolian; Norwegian; Polish; Portuguese; Romanian; Russian; Slovakian; Spanish; Swedish; Turkish; and Ukrainian. For international readers, especially people who share American values, wanted to read The Fountainhead in their native tongues. So, they could understand, through fiction, what proper, and improper, selfishness is. 

Further, because Gurgen’s book examines the concept of social mobility in The Fountainhead, of rising up in society because of what you have created, it appeals to America’s blue-collared workers who also want to become rich and successful. Since, many plain workman, it can be reasoned, would benefit from reading a book that shows them, in specific ways, how they can improve their own lives. By exercising their own values in a merit-based civilization that enables people to rise-up in society, by creating various enterprises. So, they can ascend to the rarefied heights of a classically liberal civilization. By advancing themselves, materially, socially, metaphysically, and existentially, on the strength of their own efforts. Based on the capacity of their own minds. 

Such, a meritocratic civilization, where ordinary people can rise-up in life, is shown when Ayn Rand depicts the modest beginnings of an American businessman named Roger Enright. Who, though born dirt poor in a one room hovel, achieves life-success, through his own industry. For though Enright starts-life as a modest Pennsylvanian coal miner, eventually he climbs out of the bowels of the earth, by saving a modest capital sum. Then by re-investing this money in the company’s oil business. Eventually, even buying out its other owners. For under Roger’s able leadership, this oil company becomes even more profitable. Eventually, because Roger makes great profits from this oil company, he becomes a multi-millionaire, solo-preneur, who invests his money in 7 other enterprises: a publishing house that prints and illustrates people’s books; a diner that delivers patrons clean food at a good price; a radio shop that sells stereos to customers, so they can listen to information they need, or want, like news, music, & sports; an auto-garage, which fixes peoples cars at an affordable price; a plant manufacturing electrical refrigerators, so consumers do not have to store their cold foods in a messy ice-box; an apartment building called the Enright House, which enables residents to live in sane comfort; and a private housing project called Cortlandt Homes, which offers low-income residents (or anyone who wants to buy there) a reasonably priced option. To build these businesses, Enright “works twelve hours a day” with “ferocious energy, coining money where nobody else thought it would grow.” (256, 258). Thus, because Enright works hard to materialize his own business vision, he makes himself a multi-millionaire in a few years. Who has improved the quality of his life greatly. Due to his own self-made efforts. Despite starting life as a poor workman who risked contracting black lung (from coal powder) and risked being buried alive (in cave-ins) from unstable cave supports. 

Such a dramatic example, then, of a human being rising-up – in life – by working hard and thinking for himself, shows blue collared workers (everyone really) that though they may be born a poor nothing, they can make themselves a great something. By working smart- and-hard over many years. Just like Roger Enright did. 

Other topics Gurgen’s first essay explores include: how Roger learns from his business mistakes, instead of letting his frustrations and failures lower his self-esteem; how the skyscraper is an example of the American creative spirit in motion; how Henry Cameron is the father of the modern skyscraper and what this means; how the relationship between the novel’s hero-protagonist Howard Roark and the teacher whom he has selected and from whom he will get the proper training, Henry Cameron, represents an American mentor-mentee relationship; how Howard Roark builds his career as an architect, despite many people trying to tear him down; how Howard Roark makes a sculptor named Steven Mallory feel valued and appreciated by hiring him, so he does not feel like an unrecognized genius all the time, or something much worse, the genius who is recognized yet rejected; how an honest American journalist named Austen Heller, serves as a foil to Gail Wynand, a corrupt media man; and, lastly, how the Fountainhead is the great American novel because it essentializes American individualism. 

Next, Gurgen’s 2nd essay, titled Roark the Life Giver: How Howard Brings Out the Best in Like-Minded Others, analyzes how Howard Roark inspires, indeed, revitalizes, many of the Fountainhead’s characters. By inspiring a young man to compose his own symphonies. Until this youth can bring his musical values into the world, just like Roark brought his architectural values into reality. Also, by enthusing his apprentice architects (at the office) his able draftsman (at their desks) and his brave construction workers (out in the field) by being a builder, a visual designer, and a civil engineer of the greatest quality. Who inspires his employees to excel in their own lives, by being true to themselves. Similarly, Roark assists his lover, Dominque Francon, to go from a malevolent view of society and man’s place in it, to a benevolent view of reality, and other human beings. By showing her that other people cannot stop him from building his own unique way. Likewise, Roark spurs a corrupt journalist, named Gail Wynand, to revitalize his basic essence. By bringing first-handed values into his life. Similarly, Roark shows a genius sculptor named Steven Mallory that despite being poor and not having much work, eventually Mallory will rise to greatness. When other greater geniuses, like Gail Wynand, value his sculptural abilities. Relatedly, Roark shows an able electrician named Mike Donnigan that the world eventually rewards outstanding builders—even if they are not valued and recognized for decades—if they abide by their own unique architectural vision in life. By staying the course of their own career trajectory, despite heavy social opposition, and collectivist weapons, pitted against them. Subsequently, Roark also shows a corporate middle-man name Kent Lansing that he can realize his own unique values in life by fighting to implement Roark’s blueprints for his Aquitania Hotel. Since, by designing this hotel, Howard helps Kent realize his goal of making his hotel management corporation a lot of money. Lastly, Roark helps a solo-preneur named Roger Enright realize his goal to create worthy businesses. Because Roark designs The Enright House and Cortlandt Homes, despite the public’s loud outcry.