The Fountainhead - Howard Roarke and Ellesworth Toohey

Ellesworth Toohey confronts Howard Rourke...unsuccessfully.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Fountainhead
• Ayn
• Rand
• Howard
• Roarke
• Ellesworth
• Toohey
• Objectivism
• Objectivist
• Novel
• Clip
• Think
• Atlas
• Shrugged

[mjkirk12]

"But I don't think of you." - classic phrase!

[Parrotguy1999]

Roark isn't saying it because he knows that it will get under Toohey's skin - that's not Roark's style, he isn't deceptive and he doesn't seek to inflict pain on others. Roark is just telling the plain truth here - he genuinely isn't angry at Toohey over the things he has done, because he genuinely doesn't think about Toohey at all. Other people's opinions and actions are entirely irrelevant to Roark.

[billybobobenner]

@Parrotguy1999 Howard Roark DOES engage with people but only on his own terms. In the book he enjoys a mutual respect and companionship in different ways with Henry Cameron, the maverick architect, who he admires. Mike Donnigan an electrician who appreciates competence. Austen Heller who makes up his own mind to hire Roark in spite of what people say about him being a selfish non conformist, and Gail Wynand who he actually tells, that he respects more than he did Cameron.

[Parrotguy1999]

@JosiahSCooper I guess you can cut yourself off emotionally like that. From my experience it just leaves you miserable.

[JosiahSCooper]

@Parrotguy1999

well, people aren't, from what I've seen . . but I guess the real question is, can they be? It seems like it requires great ignorance for this to happen . . and complete focus: which never really lasts . .

[Parrotguy1999]

@JosiahSCooper he doesn't care about threats, that's the point. Roark is an odd character, even more so in the book than the film. He listens and respond to people, but he doesn't ever really *engage* with them. He doesn't care for their approval or disdain; you could tell him you like him or that you loathe him, and he's indifferent to it because other people don't matter to him. Like much Ayn Rand philosophy, it's nice in theory but the reality is that the world and people aren't like that.

[JosiahSCooper]

@Parrotguy1999

So then, how is that possible? Surely, if there is a threat out in oblivion, he would take appropriate recourse in addressing it, lest he be obstructed and unduly. I've been fascinated by this "indifference" and "self-contained" universe ever since I heard of it. I've tried myself, in my own life, to apply Ayn Rand's picture of the ideal man to myself- but have failed utterly, with some few moments of exception- where in which I truly knew what 'freedom' meant- it's beyond this.

[Parrotguy1999]

@JosiahSCooper I think it actually goes deeper than that. Roark is utterly indifferent to what any other person thinks on any subject. That's why when Toohey gloats over ruining his career Roark just says "You're free to do what you choose." It's the same when people try to express approval of him - Roark just isn't interested in hearing it. He's the ultimate self contained man, the thoughts and opinions of others are of no interest to him whatsoever.

[JosiahSCooper]

@Parrotguy1999

they are irrelevant as long as they don't get in his way, and that's what Toohey has been trying to do; though, I guess it hasn't been so effective

[awil88]

@RushLimborg It is exactly why it is one of the greatest. :)

[RushLimborg]

@cosg9531

I'd advocate Chris Pine as Roark. He has the looks down pat, and he has the deep, slightly gruff voice Rand described.

Hugo Weaving as Gail Wynand.

For Ellsworth...I'd say either Johnathan Price or Bill Nighy.

[RushLimborg]

@awil88

Oh, I know. Still, that doesn't change the fact that it's one of the greatest verbal turnarounds in movie/book history....