What words can be used to describe a man like Howard Roark? Many have called him an artist, a creator, a modernist. However, his motivations have earned him a new title in society: altruistic. Nevertheless, Roark's seemingly altruistic actions are actually selfish when viewed through Ayn Rand's definition of selfishness. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, altruism means “not caring about oneself.” In society's eyes, Roark neglects his physical needs for something greater than himself. "You need the commission. Do you have to be so fanatical and selfless about it?" (p. 197). Roark turns down a major construction contract because it would mean having to compromise his beliefs to create the building. Roark turns him down, despite the fact that he needs the money. The banker who offered him the job views Roark's stubbornness as altruism, as he is willing to ignore his needs for an idea, namely modernism. Additionally, Roark refused Keating's money when Keating attempted to bribe Roark to keep quiet about his involvement in the Cosmo-Slotnick building. "Then he turned it over, took his fountain pen, wrote on the back: 'Pay to Peter Keating,' signed and handed the check to Keating. 'And here is my bribe to you, Peter,' he said. “For the same purpose. To keep your mouth shut. » (p. 193). Roark's gesture can be interpreted as a favor to Keating. He doesn't want to hurt his friend by reporting him, so he wouldn't have told anyone anyway. He returns the money because it is unfair for Keating to give a large sum for something Roark would have done anyway. He neglects, once again, his needs in favor of something greater than himself. Ayn Rand believes that "[…] the selfless man is...... middle of paper...... in one of two ways - - by the independent work of his own mind or like a parasite fed by the minds of others." (p.679) In this passage, Roark asserts that the man who does not find his own means of survival is nothing but a "parasite." This conjures up the image of a leech sucking a victim's leg to survive. Roark uses strong images to express the disgust he feels for the second-hand dealer. Thus, his self-esteem and his refusal to compromise make him a selfish man. To conclude, despite society's belief that Roark is a selfless man, who believes in a greater idea, he has proven himself to be a selfish man. , through the motivation of his actions and his opinion of selfishness. He condemns the altruistic man to the rank of “parasite”, a man without a soul. The altruistic man has no ego. Works Cited Rand, Ayn. The Source of the Source. New York: Feather, 1994.