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THE EDUCATION OF AYN RAND, 1905–1943
of selfi shness and completed the ethical revolution at the heart of The
Fountainhead.
Along with creativity Roark’s speech also celebrates reason, another
theme of dawning importance to Rand. Here again was the infl uence
of Paterson, who constantly ranted and raved about the importance of
reason and the dangers of irrationality. The “Manifesto” did not mention
rationality or the concept of reason, but Roark’s speech lauds “the
reasoning mind” and “the process of reason.” At some points Roark distinguishes
between thinking and creativity, at other times he collapses
the terms, telling his audience, “The code of the creator is built upon
the needs of the reasoning mind which allows man to survive” (681). He
returns always to the basic point that individual rights must be valued
above collective needs.
Swayed by Roark’s argument, the jury promptly votes unanimously
to acquit. The jury proved critical, helping Rand democratize her
vision and reaffi rm the basic wisdom of the free-thinking, independent
American. Although none of the jurors are the history-making creator
that Roark represents, Rand makes clear that they can share in his glory
simply by understanding and affi rming the principle of individualism.
After the trial scene Rand moved quickly to wrap up the loose ends
of her story. In the pages preceding the trial she had dwelled at some
length on the ordeal of Gail Wynand. Once a cocky and feared mogul,
Wynand is humbled to discover that he cannot effectively defend Roark
with his tabloids. Roark’s destruction of Cortland has aroused public
fury against him, and readers begin abandoning Wynand’s publications
when he takes Roark’s side. Wynand has long believed he alone creates
public opinion, but now he sees it is the public who owns him. Selling
out his deepest values, he salvages his fl agship newspaper, The Banner,
by reversing course and attacking Roark. His fate is the most poignant
in the book, for unlike Toohey and Keating, Wynand is “the man who
could have been.” In the novel’s closing scenes Wynand shamefully
rebuffs overtures from Roark, even as he commissions him to design
and build a landmark building. Alone and desolate as the story ends,
Wynand learns that his quest for power has brought him nothing in
return.
Rand capped off her giant manuscript with a cinematic happy ending.
Dominique, by now Mrs. Howard Roark, arrives at the construction
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