[continued from previous message]   
      
   >>>>> 2) I just googled Toohey, and here's what Sparknotes has to say: "His   
   >>>>> tactics frequently evoke those of Joseph Stalin, the former Russian   
   >>>>> revolutionary who emerged as Russia's dictator."   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Exactly. Both Toohey and Stalin were selfless servants of the people -   
   >>>> they had no interests of their own, but dedicated their lives to the   
   >>>> people. All they wanted in return was total control - not for   
   >>>> themselves, but for the people.   
   >>>   
   >>> I disagree.  They used the people as an excuse to gain power for   
   >>> themselves.   
   >>>   
   >>>> Toohey was the completely selfless man - the man who wanted nothing for   
   >>>> himself, but only wanted the public good; and therefore wanted to break   
   >>>> everyone who maintained a private life, or a sense of self.   
   >>>   
   >>> Toohey was a spider.  He spun pretty webs to catch flies in.  But as the   
   >>> flies eventually found out, the pretty webs weren't to their good at   
   >>> all.   
   >>>   
   >>> Toohey knows that he has nothing to offer the world.  He has no talents,   
   >>> not profound thoughts, no... anything.  He therefore hates men like   
   >>> Wynand -- self-made movers and shakers who are *actually* bent on   
   >>> reshaping society for the betterment of all.  Wynand is who Toohey would   
   >>> like to be -- but cannot.   
   >>>   
   >>> Toohey was inspired by Stalin, but from a literary standpoint, he is the   
   >>> grandson of Uriah Heep.  He has learned how to flatter the public by   
   >>> constantly telling them how "humble" he is, and by explaining to them   
   >>> how he is happy to be their servant and has only their best interest at   
   >>> heart.  But just a Mr. Heep was using his "humility" to gain control Mr.   
   >>> Wickfield and his fortune, so Ellsworth Toohey is using his professed   
   >>> altruism to gain the support of the masses in his bid for social power.   
   >>   
   >> Ellsworth Toohey was the "voice of the people" as he liked to remind   
   >> everyone.   
   >   
   > You're misremembering,   
   Toohey wrote a column entitled "One   
   > Small Voice," and would humbly remind everyone that he was just that.   
      
   I haven't read The Fountainhead in about forty years, so thanks for the   
   memory refresh.   
      
   >>>> I understand (Ayn Rand) just fine. I'd say that you were the one who   
   >>>> misunderstands her, but (considering I'm not talking to a person but a   
   >>>> sock) one knows where that would lead: You'd put your hands over your   
   >>>> ears, stamp your little foot, and cry "IKYABWAI!" again.   
   >>>   
   >>> I beg to differ   
   >>   
   >> As usual, nobody expects you to admit it.   
   >>   
   >>> Zarathustra (Nietzsche) said that Man was halfway along   
   >>> the bridge between Animal and Overman (and that even the Overman state   
   >>> was only the beginning of our journey).  Roark was farther advanced   
   >>> along that bridge than anyone else at that time.  Roark represented the   
   >>> Nietzschean ideal.   
   >>>   
   >>> --   
   >>   
   >> Howard Roark taught us to create our art and stand with it, don't let   
   >> the work be changed, either tacked on or watered them. Howard Roarke   
   >> wasn't afraid to blow it up, watch his creation go down in flames rather   
   >> than see it changed from his original vision.   
   >   
   > That's "Roark," .  There's no "e" on the end of it.   
      
   I remember that now, thanks.   
      
   > Yes, Roark refused to have his artistic vision tampered with.  That's   
   > why we artists love him (especially writers who've had editors emend   
   > their work without their consent).   
   >   
   > But he's still in the story to serve as a representation of the   
   > Nietzschean ideal.  Rand was a big proponent of sledgehammer symbolism.   
   >   
   > --   
      
   That's part of Ayn Rand's charm.   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)