If you don't know what "The Fountainhead" is, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountainhead
There's recently been an essay contest that I told you about. I've legally submitted my essay and this is what I entered:
Since time began, there have been two sides to this battle for success and prosperity called life, the weak, and the strong. And, in “The Fountainhead”, just this occurs. Ellsworth Toohey and Gail Wynand are both physical representations of such. However, in this case, good and evil is thrown into the mix. Toohey is a pure physical form of evil strength, whom corrupts absolutely everything, and manipulates everyone he feels are weak enough to become susceptible to said strength. Wynand is the exact opposite, he‘s benevolent and kind, but also morally weak. He is confused as to what he really wants, both in the architectural world and within his own self. Unfortunately, this confusion he experiences also makes him drastically weaker than Toohey. He has an innocent, almost childish look on the world and that ultimately allows him to almost act like a child, allowing everyone wicked enough to twist and bend his life, and in the end, corrupt his inner self.
Looking at these two, it’s obvious that they both seek power over others but the both of them do such in a different manner--- polar opposites from one another. Ellsworth is the owner of “The Banner”, one of the novel’s fictitious newspapers, and Gail is the writer to one of the columns in the paper. However, Gail gains the power over others with words, not with force; and Ellsworth gains the power over Wynand by commanding him, giving him constant “advice” and downsizing him. One of the more tense conversations between Gail and Toohey was when Ellsworth speaks about Peter Keating, one of the aspiring architects within “The Fountainhead”. “Peter Keating, no other architect can equal his ability”, and Gail responds quickly with, “I believe you”, he gives up his strength too quickly and gives in with almost no effort. “Of course, but Mr. Toohey, why should I consider your opinion?” is when he tries hard to regain his power over Ellsworth, struggling to gain the upper hand and to become ultimately more courageous. “Well, after all, I am the critic of the Banner.” was Toohey’s snippy remark, biting away at Wynand’s recessive attitude and miserably failing attempt at regaining his backbone to stand up for himself.
“Don’t confuse me with my readers!”, Gail Wynand has readers who follow him, he is the prophet of a wicked being known as Ellsworth Toohey, and, in turn, unable to be his own courageous individual. Even though he has charisma, he seems to lose it all when in disputes with the other characters in the book. Peter Keating had always made suspicions that Catherine’s uncle Toohey was eccentric, but then that opinion escalated to him being shocked that Toohey was so evil for being someone to have such moving and humble speeches. Gail has an attitude that people love, both on the outside and the inside, with nothing to hide. In the opposite respect, Toohey assembles an image in front of everyone, for the world to see, and then when he is alone with someone, his attitude immediately morphs into something gut-wrenchingly ugly.
In other words, Ellsworth M. Toohey has a certain air about him that makes him look humble but, he is really a truly evil, manipulative being on the inside; an image he would never show to his “loyal followers” even though he uses everyone to make his power like a strength factory; his underlings do most of the dirty work. In particular, his main underling is Gail.
Wynand eventually loses interest in the things he once made with a fresh and lively view, and gradually his interest in everything he loves dissipates, then fritters away into tiny little pieces, he leaves all of his hopes and dreams to die swiftly and silently. Gail’s lack of self-will and his easily-changed opinion make him such. However, when he runs into two influential people, Howard Roark and Dominique Francon, the interests he left behind to fade into the wind returned with a burst of flare; Immediately he has a stiff upper lift and knows not to let anyone change his opinion; they were his, after all. His benevolent power over people returns and his strength comes back wonderfully.
Unfortunately, when Gail steps up, so does Toohey to gain level ground of power. He turns into a psychological shadow, manipulating absolutely every person he can, anyone who is or looks vulnerable, prey for his immense hunger for power to feast on… In the most discreet and sly way. He creates a speech about helping one another, silently tells people their skills are worthless with amazing wordplay, and all at the same time, has individuals following him; not knowing that they are actually all under the ferocious power of greed and soundless lust for ever-growing strength.
And just as soon as Gail gets his interest back in life and having people listen to his words, it vanishes just as quickly as it returned. One reason is because he thinks his life is an “ugliness” within itself, and continues to be confused. His power over people is humble in nature, great in intentions, but fails to follow through to the end. As Wynand strain fully struggles in an uphill battle to put the pieces of his life back together, he succeeds with twice as much power as before. In the end, it is he who fights back against Ellsworth and survives with a new type of power; that of will, and that of purity.