Is The Fountainhead’s Howard Roark a selfless martyr to an artistic ideal? Or does he embody a new concept of self-interest — one that places nothing above the rational judgment of his independent mind? In this lesson, you’ll explore the essence of Howard Roark’s character. What is his basic motive in life? Does his unbreachable integrity lead him to sacrifice practical success to a creative ideal? Or does it prove to be the means by which he successfully achieves his ideals in his career and his life?

Spoiler alert: This lesson assumes that students have read The Fountainhead.