Fountainhead: Blog Two

1.) At the granite quarry, Dominique is deeply attracted to the red-headed worker who stares at her insolently. She pursues him aggressively, but resists him in the moment of her triumph. Given that Dominique is eager to make love to Roark, why does she physically resist? Ayn Rand once stated regarding this scene that, if it is rape, “ then it is rape by engraved invitation.” What does she mean? Is this actually rape, i.e., is Dominique an unwilling victim?


Dominique doesn't necessarily resist Roark, but chooses to lose control of the situation. She feels a need to always be in control of situation. She dislikes the result of the 'rape', but later accepts it because of her psychological behavior.Ayn Rand once said that if the scene was rape, 'then it is rape by invitation.' By this, she means that Dominique tempted Roark by maintaining an interest in him. It is more of her fault than his because of the temptation that she created. Dominique wanted what Roark gave her, but her mind had to resist him in order to fill its needs.



2.) Though strongly attracted to Roark, Dominique both pursues and fights him. Is this inner conflict regarding her love representative of some deeper aspect of her character? How does this ambivalence relate to her destruction of the Greek statuette that she loves? To joining forces with Ellsworth Toohey in an effort to wreck Roark’s career? To refusing to pursue a serious career in spite of her great intelligence? Are Dominique’s motives for thwarting Roark the same as Toohey’s?



Dominique treats Roark in two opposite ways, which represents her complicated belief that all men are imperfect, even though Roark is not. She believes that all things beautiful should never be used by the imperfect and destroys them so the imperfect can use them. Roark should be imperfect, but is not, and she must destroy anything that is perfect. Her love for him only complicates that matter more, for she must love and destroy someone who shouldn't exist.

Dominique makes some unique choices from this point on. First, she teams up with Toohey to ruin Roark's career. Second, she starts dating Roark secretly. And from the start of the story, she punishes herself for her desires by destroying priceless objects so no one can see their beauty again, even herself. She must love and destroy perfection.


4.) At Kiki Holcolmbe’s party, Keating gives advice to Roark. He says: “ Always be what people want you to be.” What is the meaning of such a statement? Why does Keating believe this? What does such an approach to life reveal about the soul of Keating and of people like him?


The meaning of Keating's advice to Roark is that when you become what people want you to be, you progress without the worry of fighting. With the problems that Roark is facing as being an individualist, it is natural to suggest something of this sort, but the point of being an individualist is to work through it and not give in to collectivity. The difference between the situation and Keeting's normal morals is that, while he is suggesting that Roark apply it to the problem, he applies it to everything.
Keeting believes that being what society wants of you is acceptable for a few reasons- the first being that all individualists have been shot down and rejected to a life of failure. The second reason that Keeting enjoys pleasing others is that it gets him into the positions that he wants without going through extensive work to get there. . This approach to life shows lacks of confidence, originality, and intuition.


5.) At the same party, Dominique thinks of Roark’s as “ the face of a god.” What is she responding to in Roark? In seeing such beauty in Roark’s face, an evaluation not shared by the rest of society, what does Dominique reveal about her own soul?

Dominique thinks of Roark as 'the face of a god.' By 'face', Dominique is describing Roark's representation of an idea/belief. By 'god', she is describing the ideal of architecture. The meaning of the saying is simplified: Roark represents the true ideal of architecture, which is also part of Roark's belief system.
By saying this to about Roark, Dominique reveals more about herself than what most people might miss. She reveals her acceptance of him being perfect among an imperfect world by using the word 'god'. She also reveals that her intelligence allows her to understand and accurately analyze Roark's designs for their deeper meanings. She supports Roark by saying this to him, but must still destroy him.


7.) Toohey convinces Hopton Stoddard to hire Roark to build the Stoddard Temple. What is Toohey’s purpose? Why does he seek to brand Roark an enemy of religion? What is Toohey’s deeper reason for attempting to end Roark’s career?

Elsworth Toohey is trying to destroy Roark. I believe that Toohey is a bit crazy.I feel that in some way elsworth is threatened by Roark and what he stands for,although he doesn't know much about Roark.I think that Toohey branded Roark as an enemy of religon because of what Roark stands for. I really don't understand the reason for Toohey to want to end Roarks career.