Ellsworth Toohey's character is stressed in this section. Up until the construction of the Enright House, Toohey has had to take no action against Roark; the originality of Roark's designs was sufficient to keep a convention-following society from recognizing him. But at this stage of Roark's career, a series of independent men hire him for major projects. Roger Enright is the first. Enright, a tough and innovative entrepreneur, understands that Roark is the only choice for the new type of apartment building that he has in mind. This is the chance that Roark needs. The brilliance of his design attracts to him Anthony Cord (for the construction of an office building) and Kent Lansing (for the construction of a hotel).
Roark's success threatens Toohey. Toohey, a powerful critic, seeks control over the field of architecture as a means of gaining wider power. Roark's independence stands in the way of this control. He launches a multi-front campaign designed to stop Roark. First, he will not mention Roark in his column, even to attack him; he convinces Dominique to do the same, refusing to grant Roark free publicity. Further, he enlists Dominique's support and, together, they convince prospective clients to reject Roark and hire Keating, a jellyfish thoroughly under Toohey's control. Finally, when Roark succeeds despite these measures, Toohey conceives and executes the Stoddard Temple plan, a brilliant scheme of manipulation and character assassination. By the end of Part Two, Toohey's machinations have reduced Roark to the second and last nadir of his career; Toohey now stands at the high point of his power. In the book's final half, Toohey's ability to impede Roark's practical success is gradually reduced to naught.
