Objectivism and the SourceHow should we live our lives? Do you live for others or for yourself? What do you think is the ideal: altruism or selfishness? Why? Ayn Rand's novel The Fountainhead addresses these issues and her philosophy behind it called Objectivism. His rebellious rhetoric is to convince us that the only true virtue is selfishness and that we should live up to his standards and live for ourselves. Ayn Rand was from the Soviet Union and her background helps us understand her rhetoric as to why she preached her philosophy. “Born in Russia and a hater of revolution, Ayn Rand dreamed of America as an Eden of individualism. When she got there – becoming first an extra for Cecil B de Mille, then a writer and popular philosopher – she expounded her belief in the sovereignty of the individual” (Romney 1). In America Rand could get noticed and be known. The individual is what is important, and she emphasizes this very much in her novel, using the main character, Howard Roark, perhaps as a mirror image of herself. (In fact, it has been claimed that Ayn Rand used famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright as a model for Howard Roark, which Rand has denied (Bierut 2), but I personally think Howard Roark is a model of herself.) Throughout his novel he states that altruism is a false virtue and that selfishness is the key to humanity's happiness. The Fountainhead describes an excellent rhetorical style for presenting objectivism. Through his fictional novel about an idealistic architect in a conformist world he portrays his philosophy cleanly and clearly. Rand causes the reader to question their own thoughts and actions regarding the way they live. First, I would like to provide more details to...... middle of the paper ...... is the first to identify the relationship between life and moral values” (Peikoff 5). Ayn Rand is the true rebel of her novel and Howard Roark expresses her rhetoric. It symbolizes his cause and forces one to live for oneself. Don't be second hand. “A truly selfish man cannot be influenced by the approval of others. He doesn't need it” (Rand 634). Works Cited Beirut, Michael. "A textbook case: the book 'The Fountainhead' and its influence on architects." Interior July 1996: 88.Berliner, Michael S., ed. Letters of Ayn Rand. By Ayn Rand. New York: Dutton, 1995. Garmong, Dina. Personal interview. November 2, 1999.Peikoff, Leonard. The philosophy of objectivism, a brief summary. Stein and Day, 1982. Rand, Ayn. The Source. New York: Plume, 1994. Romney, Jonathan. “The Source (Film Review).” New statesman. November 20th. 1998: 36.