character analysis: Howard Roark

Howard Roark is the protagonist of Ayn Rand’s novel, The Fountainhead. He is a very smart man and a great architect of absolute integrity. Roark is a young and egger architect. Roark believes that not anyone can create art. He believes one must be what is known as a “prime mover” to become an artist. This person is not helped by others. Howard Roark is an individualist. He is not into architecture for material or personal gain, but rather he does it to express himself and his individuality. Throughout the novel, Roark is depicted as a rebel. One might say he answers to no one. He was expelled from his school of architecture for what was described as “drawing outside the lines” and for refusing to do what he was told. Roark does associate himself with his friends but does not rely on them for work as did Peter Keating.  He is tall, gaunt, and angular, with gray eyes and distinctive orange hair. Roark was born poor but he supported himself in high school and college by working various jobs around construction sites. Roark expresses an egger attitude in every job he is assigned. Roark was a very tall man that when he looked down at people, he made them feels as if they didn’t exist. He was also a very well built man. His hair colour however, was rather strange. His hair was orange. Roark was an insecure yet charming man who was more “to the point” as opposed to his colleague Peter Keating.  He is always true to his beliefs and offers to help others a lot. He was also quite rebellious but he also made a good leader.