After her husband dies, she takes in boarders in order to pay for her son's schooling. She refuses to do anything because it is easier, or because it is sensible, or even because she wants to do it, because she takes all of those motivations as forms of coercion. Guy Francon's daughter, Dominique Francon values freedom above all things.

Catherine passionately wants to marry Peter Keating and to help people, but she does not think he is capable of any great action, making her an ideal target for her uncle. Catherine HalseyĪ young girl who grew up in Stanton but moves to New York after the death of her father to live with her uncle Ellsworth Toohey. Austen HellerĮxtremely educated and from an old and wealthy family, Austen Heller is now a widely respected social activist who fights coercion in all forms. He becomes completely devoted to Roark and to the kind of achievement he represents. MikeĪ master electrician, Mike loves to see mastery in others. Instead, he spreads the beliefs that all men are equal, that a desire for individual achievement is selfish, and that true happiness can only come from total sacrifice of ego to the common good. He hates men like Howard Roark, who show that outstanding achievements encourage the growth of everyone around them, for Toohey seems to be incapable of outstanding achievements himself.

The villain of The Fountainhead, Toohey seeks to destroy the spirit of individual achievement in New York City, followed by that spirit in the world. Cameron dies a relatively happy death, demonstrating that a man who does not compromise himself is happier even if he is penniless and scorned by society.

He becomes a drunk and a so-called failure, but he refuses to let go of his ideals. Howard Roark's mentor, Henry Cameron was once the epitome of a successful architect. Keating will never truly be happy because he will never be able to free himself from the trap of middle-class society. Peter Keating relies on coercion and manipulation to make his way in the world, and at the same time he allows himself to be guided by the opinions and advice of other people. Howard Roark's classmate at the Stanton Institute of Technology, Peter Keating represents the average man with an imperfect idea of success. The hero of The Fountainhead, Howard Roark is portrayed as an ideal man: independent, strong, and free.

The fountain head book