Fountainhead

After reading a considerable number of blogs from previous years, I am still stuck on how to go about this.  I suppose if I look at it as a way to say what is on my mind, it won't be as difficult.  However, I read one of the articles given out in class and it stuck a nerve. The article, "The Hypocrisy of Ayn Rand," seemed to be by some guy who was bored with his life and had way too much time on his hands, and I immediately was enraged by the blatant attacks on Ayn Rand, author of The Fountainhead, a required reading for my AP English class this year.  The author of this web article claims that Rand is a hypocrite for preaching her views of objectivism and the power of the individual, and "in secrecy" being a "welfare mooch." 

First, allow me to give some background on what is now one of my favorite books, The Fountainhead.  It is the story of an architect who refuses to compromise himself or his work for the sake of someone, or even something else.  He lives in a corrupt society where everyone gives in to the authority above them and the rights of the individual are lost.  Howard Roark, the main charater, has the strength and the passion to persevere throughout the novel and in the end he, signfiing the individual, comes out on top.  I loved Roark from the beginning and was continually impressed with his personal strength (a cliche way to put it) and his ability to laugh in the face of, what weaker men would consider, danger.  Without knowing Ayn Rand's philosphy I agreed with Howard Roark, and I desperately wanted him to succeed.  If this individual could rise against the warped nature of society, it seems logical to believe that anyone can, too. And this is the impression that the story left me with.  

Then, during the discussions in class, I began to fully grasp the belief behind the novel.  In my opinion, most of Rand's agruments make sense: "Reality...facts are facts, independent of man’s feelings, wishes, hopes or fears. Reason...is man’s only means of percieving reality...[and is] his basic means of survival. Man—every man—is an end in himself, not the means to the ends of others. He must exist for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself. The pursuit of his own rational self-interest and of his own happiness is the highest moral purpose of his life." (Capitalism is a different story). But her view of capitalism is important, and is the reason why I am now questioning her philosoohy, thanks to the article.

The point is that Rand was diagnosed with lung cancer, and under her husband's name (O'Connor) sought help from the government to help pay for treatment.  The author of the article claims this as hypocrisy, while I believe that it can only be subjected to being human.  Yes, Ayn Rand has "despised government intereference" but when one is put in a position, such as learning of an illness that can not be taken care of alone, one is forced to reconsider earlier opinions. Maybe she realised that she was mistaken, or even wrong, but who are we to judge?  Rand is human, like you, like me. How can we criticise her when we make mistakes too? If this author has so much room to bash another person, I would like to meet him and see how truly perfect he is.  

It does not sit well with me anymore to say that I am agreeing with Objectivism, or disagreeing with it, however, one is forced to consider their priorities before jumping into a lifestyle that may come back to bite them. And that is what I am now taking away from these pieces of literature. I am aware that my opinion may seem faltering, but I can't say whether or not I see a truth in these works anymore. Maybe our lives aren't supposed to be perfect and we really do have to make mistakes in order to see what is real, what is important, and what is true. Although Rand tried to get her philosophy across in The Fountainhead, the only truth that I can see is that you have to look out for yourself, and clearly, Rand did not in this case.  It is still a wonderful book, Rand is still an awesome writer, and this "mario piperni" guy still needs a life, in my eyes.

Citations:

http://mariopiperni.com/hypocrisy/the-hypocrisy-of-ayn-rand.php

http://www.aynrand.org/site/PageServer?pagename=objectivism_intro