Fountainhead:: Blog Four

3.) Gail Wynand hires Roark to build a fortress to protect Dominique from human society. Despite the irony, there is almost an inevitability to this event. Why does Wynand choose Roark from among all the architects of the country? Why is it fitting? What is the essence of their bond?

Wynand chooses Roark to build his home because he is in love with Roark's purpose and work. Wynand has a particular purpose for building this home, which generally revolves around both a tribute and a protective barrier for Dominique from the rest of society. Wynand finds Roark fitting to do the job because all of his designs are made for a specific purpose, and there is never anything useless in his buildings. Wynand wants every single part of the house to represent and encase Dominique, which he knows Roark will be able to do if given free reign over the plans. In a more symbolised sense, however, it is fitting for Roark to build the tribute to Dominique because he is, indeed, in love with her. Although Wynand loves Dominique, I don't think that at first he realized that it would take someone who shared that with him in order to build what he was asking.
The essence of their bond dwells with ideals and perceptions. They are complete opposites, in a sense, but they think alike, as well. While Wynand is after power, Roark is simply after having his work constructed, but both of them see the differences between creators and second-handers. Both of these men are in love with Dominique, and while it is easily apparent to Roark, it was hidden from Wynand. Their bond is only understandable once many of the factors have been brought to attention, but it is very deep and very apparent. While they respect each other, they both have their own intentions and plans to carry those intentions out.

6.) Why is Roark's brilliant design for Cortlandt Homes altered by Gus Webb and Gordon Prescott? What factors in society make it possible? Why is Keating, despite his best efforts, powerless to stop it?

Roark's design for the Cortlandt Homes is altered because the design went through Keeting, and Webb and Prescott knew that Keeting would be easy to step all over. Keeting has always given in to what others wished of him as to avoid being seen as rebellious or argumentative. Webb and Prescott were not aware that the design was created by Roark, but they stepped in to partner with Keeting and altered the design in order to, in a sense, give it a gilded appearance. The society in which this took place affected the outcome in various ways. The specific area for which the design was made was very poor and declined, hence the building was meant to be low rent and cost efficient.
The society did not know the plans, the original design or who it was by, therefore they did not make even a notice when the plans began to change. Roark was away with Wynand at the time, so he could not enforce Keeting to stand up. Although Keeting did make efforts to stop the changes being made, he was ineffective for quite a few reasons. Keeting had never stood up for himself, and this once-in-his-life action probably seemed more like a joke than it did a real request. He had never cared before, so people didn't value his opinion. He had become a failure, so people didn't respect his wishes, judgement or threats.

8.) Dominique assists Roark in the dynamiting, and tells him that she will wait for him even if he serves time in prison. She is no longer afraid of what society will do to him. What is the essence of Dominique's change of thinking? What error has she previously made that she now corrects? What enables her to finally see the truth? How does her change of mind integrate with the novel's theme?

"Howard, if you win the trial-even that won't matter too much. You've won long ago....I'll remain what I am, and I'll remain with you-now and ever-in any way you want...."
Dominique's thinking changed when she came to this realization, and I believe that she realized this because she let herself feel the fear of having Roark locked in a jail. Sure, it'd be horrible not to see him all the time, but when it comes to true love...that doesn't always matter. She realized that they both knew the truth and that was all that mattered. She came to her senses and realized that she would always be his, and that he would always be hers, no matter how many years they spent apart. She knew that they would be reunited eventually, and she knew that if he did go to jail, that it would be for good reason; he would have stood up for his morals and that's all that counts.
The error that she is correcting relates to happiness and pain. She always thought that she couldn't be happy without him, but now she sees that they always belonged to each other anyways. She is correcting the idea that she had about sacrifice, in the sense that she got back what she let go. The thing that enables her to finally see the truth is that she is happy. She knows that she has admitted pain to him, but now she is admitting happiness to him, and the only way he was able to stand that was because he understood and he felt the same way. Her change of mind and the novel's theme blend because both are about realizations and perspective. Dominique explaining this to Roark was the equivalent of Roark's speech at his trail.

11.) In his courtroom speech, Roark discusses the outstanding innovators who have carried mankind forward, arguing that it was their independent thinking--not compliance with their brothers--that enabled them to reach their monumental achievements. In terms of some of history's great independent minds--Galileo, Darwin, Pasteur, the Wright Brothers, et. al.--explain and defend Roark's thesis.

Roark is saying that individuals have conquered while second-handers have copied. Independent minds have created things, while dependant minds have simply been praised for making duplicates. He is saying that creators rise to the occasion, while followers copy stuff and expect it to be used even in a time when it is not needed. Roark is an individualist, and every part of his designs carry purpose and dignity, while say, Keeting, for example, always relied on past works and got help in almost everything he was challenged with. Roark's work has purpose and makes sense, while Keeting's work is simply praised because it was praised in the past.

12.) At the end of the novel, Roger Enright buys Cortlandt Homes and hires Roark to build it in accordance with his original design. Wynand hires Roark to erect the Wynand Building, the world's tallest skyscraper. Roark marries Dominique Francon. He has succeeded completely, and on his own terms. What point does the author make regarding the nature of success? In contrast to the evil Toohey, what point does she make regarding the nature and power of the good?

Rand makes the point that anything can happen if you have your business in order. From the beginning of the book, Roark was expected to be a failure, but he ended up winning. In various places his work was always recognized and praised, because there were other people that thought like him. She makes the point that if you stick to what you started out with, you can achieve the corresponding goal that you set. Rand makes the point that success can be achieved even in the most heinous situations.
Toohey failed at life. While he was a twisted collectivist, he was considered evil throughout the whole book. Toohey manipulated people and looked for power, while Roark used nothing but himself and looked for his buildings to be useful. Toohey was bad, and he lost. Roark was good, and he won. The power of evil can be used to manipulate and hide the truth, but with the power of good comes realizations that show the truth and everything real. Rand makes the point that the power of good is stronger than the negative power of collectivism.