The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead

by

Ayn Rand

Lucius Heyer Character Analysis

Lucius Heyer is Guy Francon’s partner at Francon & Heyer. Francon chose him as a partner only because he came from a distinguished family and had social connections. Heyer does not do much work and barely comes into the office. While Heyer ignores most employees, Keating ingratiates himself with Heyer by faking an interest in old porcelain, Heyer’s hobby. When Heyer has a stroke, Francon insinuates that Keating might be the next partner. However, Heyer returns to work and refuses to retire, and Keating gets impatient. He digs up some old information on some minor financial fraud that Heyer committed years ago, and threatens Heyer that he will reveal the information. By this time, Heyer is somewhat senile and panics at the threat, and ends up having a second stroke that kills him. Keating feels like a murderer, but when he later learns that Heyer has left all his money to him, his first thought is to wonder how much money it is. Heyer seems to have led a sad and lonely life that was defined by grasping desperately at attention and companionship.
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Lucius Heyer Character Timeline in The Fountainhead

The timeline below shows where the character Lucius Heyer appears in The Fountainhead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1: Chapter 5
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
Peter Keating has spent a year with Francon and Heyer and has ingratiated himself with both partners. Francon likes to take him out to lunch... (full context)
Part 1: Chapter 12
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
...and still a virgin, which he finds strange. He also mentions that his partner, Lucius Heyer, who had a stroke, is better but still in the hospital. Francon hints that Heyer... (full context)
Individualism Theme Icon
Integrity vs. Conformity Theme Icon
Love and Selfishness Theme Icon
...him he can at least ask Catherine to wait for a few months, because after Heyer dies and Keating is made partner, he might be able to get away with the... (full context)
Individualism Theme Icon
Integrity vs. Conformity Theme Icon
Love and Selfishness Theme Icon
...so much when she told him the news the previous night. Keating tells her about Heyer being ill and that Francon has hinted that Keating might be the next partner. He... (full context)
Part 1: Chapter 14
Individualism Theme Icon
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
Lucius Heyer recovers from his stroke and returns to the office, ignoring the protests of his doctor... (full context)
Individualism Theme Icon
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
...he’d be set for life and they can marry. He also says he’s waiting for Heyer to die, but Catherine doesn’t like him being “so terribly selfish.” (full context)
Part 1: Chapter 15
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
...he has to be named partner before the competition results are announced. He goes to Heyer’s house to blackmail him with some old information he finds about some minor embezzlement Heyer... (full context)
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
At the office, Keating tells everyone that Heyer had sent for him to come see him to discuss his retirement, and no one... (full context)
Individualism Theme Icon
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
Some days after Heyer’s death, Keating finds out that Heyer has left all his money to Keating. Keating feels... (full context)
Part 4: Chapter 14
Individualism Theme Icon
Integrity vs. Conformity Theme Icon
Rationality vs. Emotion Theme Icon
Religion and Morality Theme Icon
...what Toohey is doing to him is even worse than what Keating did to Lucius Heyer—because he at least let Heyer die. Keating wants to know why Toohey wants to kill... (full context)