Ayn Rand has often stated, in several interviews, that the
reason for her composition of The Fountainhead was to project her
views of what she considered was the ideal human being in society. Rand’s ideal
man has essential characteristics, distinct to her own philosophies. In an
interview with on-air executive, James Day, she says this ideal man must be “rational;
guided by his own reason, independent, and a man of great self-esteem”. This
man would not act blindly or impulsively by emotions, but rather, he would be
in control of his life through his own conceptual reason. This man would also
never sacrifice himself and show responsibility for another man, or the other
way around. He would not exhibit force, or either succumb to it. She says that man
will choose their own rational self-interests and claim their rights for the
mind rather than for feelings. In fact,
Rand demonstrates this throughout the novel by distinctively characterizing
Howard Roark. Roark never compromises his sketches for the benefit of others, makes
independent decisions rationally as well as logically, and exhibits great pride
and self-esteem in his work. But is everyone’s ideal man going to be the same?
Will we all share the same opinions as Ayn Rand? Of course not. So than what should
we do as society, to accommodate for everyone’s
ideal human characteristics? Does this “ideal” man even exist in society today? Actually,
our media and customs influence how we see the world’s perfect person today. So,
yes, our views on the ideal man will constantly be changing. Mass media presents
what it thinks is the ideal man. The power mass media has, although projected subtly, is monumental. It allows ideas and opinions to be embedded subconsciously
into our brains as we watch television broadcasts, hear radio talk shows, or even
read propagandized magazines. I believe,
as people in a functioning society, we know what makes at least a semi-perfect
man. However, I do not believe he actually exists entirely and I think not
everyone would agree on which desirable traits create this ideal man. In my
opinion, he can only exist in novels and in theory. When brought into reality though,
no man can exhibit all common idealistic qualities at once. Also, no man is
considered perfect, and in almost all scenarios, society’s definition of
perfection varies quite dramatically anyway.
