No. 47 - The Fountainhead

In anticipation of tonight's episode of LOST, I reviewed a list of literary references that have been mentioned or shown during the series. I have read many of them, a few specifically because they appeared in LOST. I was surprised that I had not known (or remembered?) that in season 3 the character of Sawyer was shown reading Ayn Rand's 1943 novel, The Fountainhead.

I recently picked up a copy of this book and it's now in my queue to read soon. 

The Fountainhead was Ayn Rand's first major success, although many consider Altas Shrugged to be her greatest achievement. The two books complement each other, with the latter covering in more detail some of the complex themes the former begins to examine. The Fountainhead primarily explores the theme of independence versus dependence, about following your own ideas or following those of others, about thinking for yourself or allowing others to think for you. The story is set in New York City during the 1920s and 1930s and follows the life of Howard Roark, an architect who refuses to compromise his standards in work and in life.

One of LOST's co-creators, Damon Lindelof, has stated that the character of Sawyer is very similar to the novel's main character, Howard Roark. Both are rebels against the general culture of their society and prefer to be by themselves. One of the characters in the book includes a con-man in love with a woman named "Katie." In LOST, Sawyer is a con-man and is in love with a woman named "Kate."