A Psychological Reading of The Fountainhead :: Fountainhead

A Psychological Reading of The Fountainhead Real liberty is a trait of mind. It is a commitment to ones own perception of truth as an absolute standard of thought and action. Why was this so gravid for Peter Keating to distinguish between egotism (what I am) and Ideal Self (what I wish I were)? It is evident that Peter Keatings incongruent self-concept is the root of Keatings be comprisefs that conditional love from others could only be obtained by distorting his experiences in target to portray the Ideal Self. This form of personality development starts from childishness experiences and can be directly connected to the amount of congruence or incongruence of ones experience in life. Keating is a prime example of incongruency or individual that registers every little move within the environment. Keating has a constant worship of what is perceived within the consciousness of others, which he spends his entire life move to appease and control. (Rogers, 1961) Keating is basi cally a hypocrite, by saying one issue and acting in an opposite manner. Keating is not the only hypocrite. Keating is relieved when he notices that Guy Francon is putting on a front for his benefit. It means that Francon in any case is a man like Keating, with the same attitude toward the consciousness of others. This authority of thinking was accurately described as Ayn Rand uses Roarks words in his coating courtroom speech, The man who attempts to live for others is a dependent. He is a poriferan in motive and makes parasites of those he acts. The relationship produces nothing but shared corruption. It is impossible in concept. The nearest approach to naive realism - the man who lives to serve others - is the slave. ( Fountainhead, p. 680) When Keating first proposes to Dominique, he speaks rapidly, easily, and so sure of himself it was not difficult. A lie is described as an effort to manipulate the consciousness of others, a mode that comes too natural to Keating. Thou gh he is an intelligent man, not without almost heart, he is fundamentally incapable of being honest. The concept of truth, the grasp of reality in Keatings mind is different and frightening. Rand uses the terminology second-hander to describe the Peter Keatings of the world. The pickax is not self-sacrifice or domination. The choice is independence or dependence. The code of the creator or the second-hander.