Howard Roark, a 22 year old architect, seems to make everyone around him quite uncomfortable. He does regard the ideals of anyone around him, or anything taught to him without a direct purpose. The book opens up with him getting expelled from the college he attended, the Stanton Institute of Technology. He was expelled, not for his failure to perform, but more in spite of the fact that he, “[having] been excellent in all the engineering sciences”(Rand, 21), but for the fact that he does not use what is called “styles” of art or actual defined methods to construct. He also seems fine with the idea of this happening, “I have nothing further to learn here”, being the way for him to express himself at the Dean’s prospect of him returning in a later year after he has, “grown up”. Overall, this main character seems to show ideals of nonconformist, not caring for anyone else’s thoughts on him or on anyone else. However, this far in to a book, one cannot be entirely sure of that but from what I can perceive, Howard Roark seems to be a great example of individuality. What helps make this inital distinction about Howard Roark is not only his attatude, but the setting of external conflict the author places the main chacter. By puttin him in a carreer that has strong foundations on tradition and following others, the author has set up a strong beginning to create conflict for the rest of what appers to be a lengthy book.
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The character in your new book is similar to your first books main character, in age and in attitude. You should do another entry about your first book though, and expand on Alex’s choice to conform or not. Maybe talk a little bit about your main topic “the concepts of if it is good or bad to conform”. You provided a lot of information about Alex’s character, and many of the problems his actions brought him, but you should provide more of your opinion.
Howard Roark comes off as arrogant. After getting expelled from college, he had said, “I have nothing further to learn here”. I understand where you are coming from, in a sense that it was wrong that his methods were not accepted, regardless of his obvious talent. This character interests me because I can’t tell if he just has a sour attitude, or if he wants to be an individual. “Overall, this main character seems to show ideals of nonconformist, not caring for anyone else’s thoughts on him or on anyone else.” Caring about others doesn’t make you less of a non conformist.
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