Hello,
Pardon me if the answer to this is obvious, because it seems like a simple enough question - I just can't come up with a good answer.
Roark is depicted as the ideal man, and if I understand correctly - he is a man of complete integrity, who does not compromise.
But in small matters that are personal and unrelated to his work, he does compromise - for example in the clothes that he wears (I don't recall the exact quote but in a conversation with Enright(Maybe?) he says something like "I can wear their clothes, but..").
So, my point is, If (for example) Roark wants to dress up in a certain way - one that might hurt his chances of being taken seriously, Isn't he being untrue to himself by wearing what society holds as appropriate? Isn't he (Perhaps in a small way) allowing others opinion of him to influence his action?
Juxtaposing this with my first statement - that Roark is depicted as a man who never compromises - how would you resolve this conflict? (At least, what I believe is a conflict.)
This question also refers to my own life - not in the clothes I wear but in the fundamental question of how much I allow others' opinions to affect my actions - not at all? Because I never allow another man's opinion to change my own thoughts and judgment about a particular thing or event, but to some degree being completely eccentric and disagreeable on all terms would eventually hurt me - for example in applying for a job or things of this sort. Hurt me enough for it to be in my own Selfish interest to do what others would consider "normal". Which would then be, in a way - compromising.
I am unable to resolve these two terms - Never compromising, and at the same time being Selfish. What if it is in a man's best interest to manipulate others for some reason? Would'nt this make him somewhat of a Peter Keating of sorts? Manipulating others for his own good?
Thank you in advance,
T.