“I don’t care whether you agree with me or not.” This quote was a quick and easy answer given by Howard Roark within the first few pages of the philosophical book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. Although the first chapter of the book may seem minute and inconsequential amongst the wide span of pages that comprise the story, it helps us dive into the mind of Roark and perceive the cold rational that he has for life. The audience is able to see his plight for individuality, for the questioning of the institutions, tradition and of the nature of society itself. Although Roark himself may come off as cold and uncaring at first, we are able to deduct from just the first twelve pages of the book that Roark as achieved something very close to an immoral perfection.
Perfection, a nearly impossible concept that many refuse to believe exists within the natural world. Before giving the premise that Roark has been expelled from the Architectural School of the Stanton Institute of Technology, Rand describes Roark though in an almost mathematical immaculate manner with few imperfections. Roark holds a body of “straight lines and angles, each curve broken into planes” while his face itself was “a law of nature”. Rand continues to depict Roark in almost God like proportions. His chosen career path, one of an architect, is a reflection of God’s work in planning and shaping the world. Roark’s awareness of the earth and its composition of granite, trees and iron and his uses for them further emphasizes that Roark has obtained a higher clarity than what most humans have. The assuredness of what these items will be used for and his deity similar qualities depict how Roark sees the world not as how it could shape him but how he could shape it as its architect, setting him on a pedestal above others.
Roark most exudes this difference in qualities as he walks amongst others. As Roark passes the streets of Stanton many turn to him garnering him much attention. Likewise both Ms. Keating and the Dean take him with a sense of uneasiness as they realize that although Roark may be looking at them directly in the eyes, he also regards them as if they were not there. The line, “He could have walked there naked without concern,” further extends the point that Roark has achieved grace above others to the point where he is no longer concerned about their thoughts and opinions. This creates one of the main points of the novel that individuality has to be created without the influences of society. Roark holds no care for the people he encounters in the first chapter. Ms. Keating’s reaction to how Roark dresses so informally for the Dean represents the conformity that society expects of the individual. Roark’s lack of care for his state of dress though shows how he has surpassed these hegemonic ideals. One cannot be bogged down by the concerns of others, or of society in general which is culminated amongst Roark’s line “I don’t care whether you agree with me or not.”
A breaking from traditions also plays a key role during this first scene that also emphasizes the deterrence from societal conformity. The Dean himself represents society and its ideals, ideals found by analyzing historical architecture and mimicking them in today’s constructions. Roark points this out to the Dean by explaining how architecture has not evolved from his point of view, instead what has happened is that with new materials of a better age, architecture has been found to still copy those that came before them. The columns of structures today mimic those of the marble columns of the past which copy those of wood from the ancient. This enrages both Roark and the author in that society in general has lost generations of individuality by studying these ancient structures such as the Parthenon. Roark states himself that he has learned all that he can from the school that he has just been expelled from implying that he has to find his own style, his own art. By trying to mimic those of the past Roark has realized that he was losing his own potential. By conforming to what society has deemed beautiful one has suddenly limited their own abilities.
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand embraces a cold hard logic, one that states that the individual must look past the group in order to achieve greatness. Roark himself logically determines that the institutions of today are teaching him nothing about how to create architecture as much as it is teaching him to mimic it from past architects. Thus he pushes them aside and pretends that they are not there in order to separate himself from the hegemony that society asks for. Through doing this Roark has achieved a God like air that exudes superiority and clarity above others.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Assignment 2: Scarlet Letter and Symbols
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne details the events of Hester Prynne’s life in regards to her experiences with adultery. The setting consists of a puritanical society, one based upon the expulsion and the covering of one’s sins creating hypocrisy among the inhabitants as they denounce each other for the sins that are found yes try to harbor their own dark secrets. What gives the book its flair though is the symbolism that the author has been able to spread throughout the story, most of which can be found in the second scaffold scene. Finer, minute details such as the contrast between light and dark and the positioning of these characters symbolize various concepts and ideas of Hawthorne. Likewise the more major symbol of the scarlet “A” worn by Hester represents one of the key thoughts, that salvation is found through confession.
The second scaffold scene of the Scarlet Letter synthesizes many of the symbols together to create one moral truth for the novel. The setting itself of the second scaffold scene holds a few symbolic meanings that should be taken into consideration. First it takes place at night, under the guise of darkness. Although the darkness itself hints at trying to hide sins, as Reverend Dimmesdale is trying to do, this is later contrasted by the bright scene of Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl holding hands forming “an electric chain”. The chain itself is described with“vital warmth” and a “tumultuous rush of new life” giving the impression that within confessing one’s sins, as Dimmesdale was trying to do, there is an effervescent feeling of well being. The positioning of these three characters also symbolizes the equality between them. Together on the scaffold holding hands the three of them take responsibility over the adultery that had taken place between Dimmesdale and Hester. Unlike the first scaffold scene where Dimmesdale was high above upon a tower implying he was closer to God, he is now upon the same level as Hester and Pearl bearing his sins. Hester’s scarlet A plays an important role in creating a contrast between one who sins and one who confesses. Although initially Hester’s A had brought her dejection along with inconvenience it now symbolizes pride and recognition. Although the world now knows her sin she holds no guilt for what she has done after bearing the repercussions, which is shown by how she still does her work as a seamstress and how during the second scaffold scene she takes a more reserved role. Dimmesdale, although he holds no scarlet A and hides his actions, finds no condolence in this and actually has a harder time coping. He instead lives in dread of public exposure and holds anguish in his life while Hester lives relatively calmly signifying how salvation is found through confession.
The multiple uses of symbolism through the book allows for readers to interpret the story through their own thoughts and reflections. Although certain symbols such as Hester’s A for adultery are more pronounced, there are hidden symbolism that are sprinkled throughout the book that readers can look deeper into. The setting of some of the scenes such as the second scaffold scene holds much meaning behind them. Although they may seem small the hold their own importance by adding to the general notion that it is not the position that one has in society that leads to a closer relationship with God but how much one is able to confess of their own faults and wrongdoings.
The second scaffold scene of the Scarlet Letter synthesizes many of the symbols together to create one moral truth for the novel. The setting itself of the second scaffold scene holds a few symbolic meanings that should be taken into consideration. First it takes place at night, under the guise of darkness. Although the darkness itself hints at trying to hide sins, as Reverend Dimmesdale is trying to do, this is later contrasted by the bright scene of Dimmesdale, Hester and Pearl holding hands forming “an electric chain”. The chain itself is described with“vital warmth” and a “tumultuous rush of new life” giving the impression that within confessing one’s sins, as Dimmesdale was trying to do, there is an effervescent feeling of well being. The positioning of these three characters also symbolizes the equality between them. Together on the scaffold holding hands the three of them take responsibility over the adultery that had taken place between Dimmesdale and Hester. Unlike the first scaffold scene where Dimmesdale was high above upon a tower implying he was closer to God, he is now upon the same level as Hester and Pearl bearing his sins. Hester’s scarlet A plays an important role in creating a contrast between one who sins and one who confesses. Although initially Hester’s A had brought her dejection along with inconvenience it now symbolizes pride and recognition. Although the world now knows her sin she holds no guilt for what she has done after bearing the repercussions, which is shown by how she still does her work as a seamstress and how during the second scaffold scene she takes a more reserved role. Dimmesdale, although he holds no scarlet A and hides his actions, finds no condolence in this and actually has a harder time coping. He instead lives in dread of public exposure and holds anguish in his life while Hester lives relatively calmly signifying how salvation is found through confession.
The multiple uses of symbolism through the book allows for readers to interpret the story through their own thoughts and reflections. Although certain symbols such as Hester’s A for adultery are more pronounced, there are hidden symbolism that are sprinkled throughout the book that readers can look deeper into. The setting of some of the scenes such as the second scaffold scene holds much meaning behind them. Although they may seem small the hold their own importance by adding to the general notion that it is not the position that one has in society that leads to a closer relationship with God but how much one is able to confess of their own faults and wrongdoings.
About me Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card began his career as a poet, not an author.
Card created the Utah Valley Repertory Theatre Company and produced plays at "the Castle".
Card has served as a missionary for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil.
Card runs a writing workshop called "Literary Boot Camp".
Card works as a judge for the Writers of the Future contest.
Card created the Utah Valley Repertory Theatre Company and produced plays at "the Castle".
Card has served as a missionary for the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brazil.
Card runs a writing workshop called "Literary Boot Camp".
Card works as a judge for the Writers of the Future contest.
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