ome heart, he is fundamentally incapable of being honest. The concept of truth, the grasp of reality in Keating's mind is different and frightening. Rand uses the terminology "second-hander" to describe the Peter Keatings' of the world. "The choice is not self-sacrifice or domination. The choice is independence or dependence. The code of the creator or the second-hander." ( Fountainhead, p.681)Roark's independence is the source of his strength. The reader is able see the nature of Roark's consciousness, as an almost equally intense perception of their own consciousness. We recognize that we can love and be loyal to an individual by giving them complete independence and self-responsibility, as was the case with Roark and Dominique's relationship. We understand that an individual has a greater opportunity to achieve self-actualization and maximize their potential for growth if we let them use their own free will or inner direction. We acknowledge with the help of Roark that each one of us has that flame that burns inside, the fire that others try to extinguish through words or actions. The premise is that man's integrity could grow only from following his own truth and ego, serving his own purpose and passion.This is why Roark never faltered within his mental state. Whether Roark was working at the rock quarry in Connecticut or landing the most coveted architectural commission in New York, his frame of mind remained constant in his own belief. Roark's congruence between self-concept and actual experience never strayed. (Rogers, 1980) This enabled Roark to grow as a person not only professionally, but more important emotional and mentally. Roark was able to continually progress until he reached self-actualization or the realization of his potential. (Maslow, 1968)The sharp contrast between Howard Roark and Peter Keating is evident throughout the novel Fountainhead. Rand leaves it up to the reader to come up with the realiza...
