The Fountainhead: Peter Keating

Though Peter Keating is without a doubt a bastard, I cannot say that I hate him, or even really dislike him, though I do not really like him either, in some ways my feelings toward him are neutral, if anything I think I feel pity or sympathy for him in some ways, but I still have the deep down desire to see Roark crush him. 

I think I understand Keating's feelings toward Roark. Keating has no real passion or love for what he does, and he is not even particularly good at it, most of his best works have really been done at the hands of Roark. Keating just knows how to move ahead, how to use people and manipulate them, but architecture really means nothing to him. He himself never wanted to go into the field it was his mother that pushed him to it. The only thing that Keating strives for is to feel like he is important, to be somebody to achieve greatness in the world, and architecture is simply the tool he is using for this means. In this way knows that he is a fraud, and that is the root of his constant insecurity in everything. 

He knows that Roark is the true genius, Roark has passions for his work, ideals, and convictions. And it does not matter how successful that Keating becomes, and how obscure that Roark might be, as long as Roark keeps his ideals he will always be a threat to Keating, he will always be taunting Keating and looming over him. Keating feels like he is living the shadow of Roark. 

In a way I think this is the reason why Keating feels so driven to try and push Roark into not being so stubborn, and into comprising his ideals, and submitting to just become "one of them" Because even though he knows that if Roark did that, his skill would soar above Keating's and he would likely soon become one of the most noted architects, in a way it would put Keating on equal footing with him, knowing that Roark had to give something up, that he was just like everyone else. He would always feel a certain satisfaction in that knowledge, and it Roark sacrificed his ideals, it would lesson his threat to Keating. 

What Keating fears most of all is Roark somehow succeeding on his own terms. Because of this happens, Keating fears he will be shown as the fraud that he truly is. He will be proven wrong. No matter where Roark is in the world or what becomes of him, as long as he holds onto his convictions, and ideals he will pose a threat to Keating. For as long as Roark believes in something greater than himself, it will serve to remind Keating constantly, that the only thing he believes in is himself and his own greatness. 

In some ways, he knows, and feels he does not deserve his position, he knows that Roark, really should be the one, and the only thing holding Roark back, is Roarks passion and dedication to his work and his unwillingness to do produce something he cannot respect.

9:28 AM - 2/28/2008 - post comment

Quote of the Week: Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted ~ Italian Proverb

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