4.) Keating goes to work for Guy Francon, the most successful and prestigious architect in the country. What are the methods by which Francon has achieved commercial success? Does he have anything in common with Keating? In what ways do they both differ from Roark?
Keating and Francon share many similar features when it comes to their success. Francon has gained his success by claiming the work of others. He has a firm full of talented employees who either get unrecognized for their work or even punished for individual values. Keating has joined the team and is doing the exact same thing. Neither seems to mind who they hurt in the process. Also I think that Keating and Franchon both lack passion for architecture. They both seem to create schemes to get rid of the success so that they may have that position. Keating stated several times that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life and that the only reason for his decision was because of his mother.
I believe that Howard Roark is the epitome of what an artist is, unlike Keating and Franchon. Roark believes in the structure and emotion of his work. He has an open eye for the ideas of modernism; something both Peter and Guy think is absurd. He doesn’t worry about what one may think, he is OK with what others may consider failing as long as he can get personal satisfaction out of it. Howard believes his sketches are his sketches and really doesn’t care what others may want.
1.) Explain in detail the reasons for Howard Roark's expulsion from the Stanton Institute of Technology. The Dean states that Roark has "a determined little group of defenders" among the faculty, while other professors "felt it their duty" to vote for his expulsion. Why do the faculty members on each side evaluate Roark and his work so differently?
Howard Roark was expelled because of the manner in which he chose to do his assignments. Roark was very grand on modernism, which is not truly supported in the Institute. Roark was given certain assignments where he had to express architect within a historical period but instead of doing that he supplied insubordination by drawing squares. This was simply because he did not support their teaching.
Don’t think for one moment that Roark was dumb, no, he was very intelligent. Maybe the most intelligent person within the Institute but he only wanted to do draw what he believed was art.
Roark may have had those professors to defend him because they knew of his talents and had an open eye to the idea of modernism that he practiced. They also saw a true architect. For example, Roark’s disability to allow Keating to do a half job on a simple building, though he knew Keating was taking advantage of him each time. (Later in book) These people saw talent, while the other half may believe that America was not ready for that type of exertion. Like the Dean, they may have seen him as weird, and thought that he was just bull-headed.
3.) Peter Keating graduates as valedictorian from the Stanton Institute of Technology. Does this mean that he is an outstanding architectural student? By what methods did he get such high grades? What does this say regarding his moral character?
Peter Keating did not graduate as valedictorian because he wanted or desired to be an outstanding architectural student. Keating only wanted to be on top…. He did what ever he had to do to make sure that no one was ahead of him. This is supported by the mere fact that he didn’t do his final and had no idea what it was on. Keating has no care for architectural and only studied it because of his persistent mother.
On my behalf, I think this only symbolizes the fact that Peter has no morals. Unlike his competition (Howard and Roark) he does not want to make his honestly. For Keating, it is only about the name and fame. Will this come back to hunt him? I doubt it. Many people live the exact same life styles today but there’s nothing we can do about it.
9.) Cameron and Roark, though brilliant designers, get few commissions. At one point, Cameron urges Roark to surrender his principles and design conventionally. Given that Cameron himself neither did nor would do such a thing, what is the meaning of that scene? What does Ayn Rand stress about the price paid by great creative thinkers in a society that does not recognize the merit of their new ideas?
This was only added to stress how dedicated Roark was to his beliefs. He believed strongly in modernism and what and when to apply it. Cameron saw himself in Roark and I think it made him feel better about all his endeavors when he was reminded of Howard’s dedication. Cameron had lived that life and maybe he didn’t want Roark to suffer as he had done, he stated several times of Roark’s talents and how they would be wasted with him. This may be an option to consider but I still believe it was a test; a test that we should put ourselves through sometimes just to test our faith.
Rand stressed this to strengthen the foundation of the book. This is only another example of what passion was within the story. She reminds us that even though others may not support our work, that’s no explanation for losing faith in it ourselves. She supplies the definition for a true artist. Though modernism is not supported Cameron and Roark still have a fight left within them.
8.) The design of the Cosmo-Slotnick Building establishes Keating's fame. What is the nature of Keating's relationship with Roark at this point in the story? Why does Keating both approach him for advice and help and take pleasure in making him perform menial tasks while an employee at Francon's? Why does Keating feel a need to degrade the man who is his meal ticket?
This simply goes back to the morals that Keating does not have. Though the Cosmo Building established Keating, it was not his work. It was a building designed by Roark. Keating feels a need to degrade Roark so that he may make himself feel better about his situations. Keating uses Roark just to build himself up. Yes, he did contract a job for Roark but does that mean he owed him anything. That is not Roark’s way of working.
I supplies basic jobs for Roark because requested that job. He refused to design any conventional buildings, it’s not his way. Roark knows that Keating is deceitful. He simply does the reconstruction (if that’s what you’d like to call it) because he can’t allow Keating to produce trash. This is the inner instinct of an artist.
