Fountainhead, fountainhead, fountainhead !
According to me, Gail Wynand is the most tragic figure I have ever come across in all of literature (of course here I mean whatever I have read so far).
Tragic as in he believes in some principles very strongly in the early part of his life, but he gives them all up to attain power. After meeting Howard Roark he is reminded of those principles and wants to follow them again, his sole chance at redemption. But when the moment of truth comes, he is unable to prove himself up to the task and redeem himself. He fails.
The following 2 quotes sum it all up:
“Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness. Alvah Scarett may be forgiven. Mitchell Layton may be forgiven. But not I. I was not born to be a second-hander”
"Build it as a monument to that spirit which is yours ..... and could have been mine."
Both these quotes show us that Gail Wynand knew that he was destined was greatness (not a mere second-hander), and he didn’t fulfill it when he had the opportunity. There is nothing worse than that, methinks. Knowing your true potential and not able to attain it, how bad can life get! I don’t feel sorry for Keating, as according to me he never knew (at least consciously) as to what he could achieve. But Wynand knew, and that’s where his tragedy lies. Tragedy isn't in losing a battle you never knew you could have won, but its in losing a battle which you knew you never could have lost !
I can just hope (actually not hope, I think I have to strive, and strive hard) so that I don’t end up like Gail Wynand, rich, famous and powerful, but broken inside and unable to see one’s own face in the mirror again !!!
According to me, Gail Wynand is the most tragic figure I have ever come across in all of literature (of course here I mean whatever I have read so far).
Tragic as in he believes in some principles very strongly in the early part of his life, but he gives them all up to attain power. After meeting Howard Roark he is reminded of those principles and wants to follow them again, his sole chance at redemption. But when the moment of truth comes, he is unable to prove himself up to the task and redeem himself. He fails.
The following 2 quotes sum it all up:
“Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven, but not those who lack the courage of their own greatness. Alvah Scarett may be forgiven. Mitchell Layton may be forgiven. But not I. I was not born to be a second-hander”
"Build it as a monument to that spirit which is yours ..... and could have been mine."
Both these quotes show us that Gail Wynand knew that he was destined was greatness (not a mere second-hander), and he didn’t fulfill it when he had the opportunity. There is nothing worse than that, methinks. Knowing your true potential and not able to attain it, how bad can life get! I don’t feel sorry for Keating, as according to me he never knew (at least consciously) as to what he could achieve. But Wynand knew, and that’s where his tragedy lies. Tragedy isn't in losing a battle you never knew you could have won, but its in losing a battle which you knew you never could have lost !
I can just hope (actually not hope, I think I have to strive, and strive hard) so that I don’t end up like Gail Wynand, rich, famous and powerful, but broken inside and unable to see one’s own face in the mirror again !!!
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