Character Transformation in Fiction

Much of good to great fiction is characterized byheroic and superior to any human being that
character transformation. Usually this occurs in theanyone is ever likely to encounter in real life. To
protagonist, although it may involve more thanillustrate, in the latter part of the novel, he is
one person. One might add that much of creativebound by his pursuers who plan to torture him by
living is similarly played out as the individual iswiring him so that they can electrify him
transformed from one type of person to another.repeatedly. They seem to be unable to succeed in
In either narrative, fiction or real life, themaking the electricity work. Galt, with his
protagonist is effected by personal epiphanies, theoutstanding intellect and moral courage cannot
influence of another, an openness to newresist explaining to his captors why the device is
experiences, the consequences of havingnot working and proceeds to explain to them how
committed an evil act, a religious conversion, actsto fix it so that they can get on with torturing
of volition, participation in military combat, ahim.
terrible illness, altruistic behavior, and sometimesRand, a committed atheist who looked upon faith
even by mere chance.with disdain and who places reason as supreme
I would like to illustrate this through two of theover all other human capacities, creates an almost
three novels by Ayn Rand. She is an author whosupernatural character. Galt comes across as
has never been accepted into the ranks of theomniscient and omnipotent. A large portion of this
literary elite, although her novels have been bestlengthy novel ends with a non-stop treatise on
sellers for decades, often on college campusesRand's ideology.
and off, as well. She has authored stage plays,Ironically, Ayn Rand, although a one-dimensional
written screenplays, along with three novels andthinker, not taken seriously by professional
dozens of ideologically oriented essays. Rand isphilosophers, was anything but a one- dimensional
best known for her two last novels: "Thecharacter in her actual life. She gathered around
Fountainhead," which was subsequently made intoher a group of people from whom she demanded
a film, and "Atlas Shrugged." The second of theseobedience. Dissension was not tolerated and she
would have been made into a screenplay, but forruled the group tyrannically. She was opinionated
the fact that Rand felt the envisioned screenplayto the point of being rude, sharp-tongued, and
compromised the integrity of her novel. Both ofvitriolic when in public debate. It was as though
these works have garnered an enormousshe saw herself as a flawless John Galt. Yet she
readership over the years and new editionswas subject to depression, seduced a young
continue to become published periodically longmember of her cultish group, who went on to
after her death.become a famous psychologist.
Yet despite this, Rand's characters are allHe later wrote an autobiography covering this
one-dimensional. They are crafted as good or evil.episode. She had a long-term affair with him, way
The good characters have no flaws andbeyond the point that the man wanted to
represent ideal human beings who never changecontinue, but he was too intimidated by her to
over time. The evil characters are thoroughly sosever the relationship with Rand, who was capable
and have no redeeming factors in the author'sof going into rages. By having this affair, she also
eyes.betrayed the friendship of the man's young wife.
In "The Fountainhead," Howard Roark, theIn addition she violated her own marriage vows to
protagonist rapes the heroine to whom he isa man who drank excessively.
attracted and they go on to have a passionateRand smoked endlessly and eventually died of
affair. For this he is regarded as heroic because oflung cancer. She presented herself as though she
his display of masculinity. Roark is an architect,was of heroic proportions, but she was far from
who regards himself as superior and is depictedflawless and was enigmatic when comparing her
as very much an individualist whose valuesfictional heroes to her own life. Their existed a
transcend those of the community.significant discrepancy between her self-image and
He designs a uniquely creative building that isthe real narrative of her life's story.
constructed by those officials responsible forI feel obliged to acknowledge that while never a
implementing his design, but they approve majordisciple of Rand, I enjoyed reading both "The
changes without his knowledge or approval. WhenFountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged," when in my
he learns of this he destroys the building byyouth. With the shaping of my own values over
blowing it up. During the trial, the reader is subjecttime, the development of my literary creed, and
to what amounts to a strong "sermon" aboutthe disclosure of Rand's personal life in separate
individualism and capitalism through the process ofautobiographies by Nathaniel Branden and Barbara
his defense. As an ideally crafted character thereBranden, who became divorced from one
is never any change in his personality, behavior, oranother, I have become disillusioned with her.
views. Howard Roark is a single dimensionalThese are separate conclusions, as I do not
character, yet he has won many admirers sincebelieve that an author's work should be judged by
his initial creation by Rand. I might add that manyher personal life, even though one's private story
who adulated this fictional character when theymay provide insight into her fiction, as is the case
were young, became less enchanted with him aswith Ayn Rand. I view her as a towering, but
they matured.very flawed figure in both life and literature. But
As for John Galt, the protagonist of "Atlaswhere does one ever find perfection in this life?
Shrugged," he is portrayed by Rand as flawlessly