Part 3: Summary
Part three of Fountainhead begins with Gail Wynand, the owner of The Banner (a newspaper that tells people what they want to hear), on the fringes of suicide. He assumes a deep interest in his gun after he ends his relationship with his mistress. The lack of shock that he associates with his thoughts of suicide compels him to carry out the abominable task. He frantically rummages through his memory bank for a reason not to take his own life.
Wynand grew up in the formidable slums of New York, known as Hell’s Kitchen,under the care of his father. He taught himself to read and write at the age five, but his attendance at school was short lived when he lost interest in it because the teacher refused to exceed a sluggish pace. At the age of sixteen Wynand was plagued with adversity as his father passed away. As time progressed, he picked up an interest for the local newspaper, The Gazette. He started out by just hanging around, and before long he becomes the associate director that loved every minute of it. However his love for The Gazette quickly dwindles away when he learns that the paper is corrupting the most honest man Wynand knew, Police Captain Pat Mulligan. Wynand is persistent with destroying the heedless company. After his relentless behavior, Wynand wrangled control from the previous owners of The Gazette and this is turning it into The Banner.
He oriented The Banner’s content around what the public wanted to hear. Wynand corrupted men’s identities by forcing them to do what he wanted because it gave him a sense of control and therefore a sense of power. He accomplished this control by obtaining employees for The Banner and then if they chose to quit he would transform their lives into a series of miserable events. One of his employees in particular is Ellsworth Toohey, a tenacious man with a lust for power. He is uncertain of Wynand’s quirky ways at first but, as the novel progresses, he completely disagrees with everything Wynand does. Another employee is, Alvah Scarret, The Banner’s editor in chief and, although he questions him, he clings to Wynand out of habit. Wynand possess an elaborate art gallery secluded from the public eye.When he puts the gun down and refrains from suicide, Wynand goes downstairs to find a sculpture of Dominique Francon given to him by Ellsworth. Dominique was also an employee of The Banner.
Wynand finds himself in a hunt for a suitable architect to build his development known as Stoneridge. Ellsworth recommends Peter Keating, one of New York’s best architects and husband to Dominique. Peter uses his wife and her ability to provocatively manipulate people in order to land commissions. Therefore when Wynand receives the sculpture of the alluring woman he agrees to meet with her. They instantly connect and Wynand is exasperated as he observes Dominique; she is even more ravishing than her sculpture. After a little bargaining Wynand strikes a deal; he will let Keating have Stoneridge in exchange for Dominique. Later that evening Wynand invitedDominique into his art gallery that hasn’t been open to anyone. The plethora of masterpieces leaves Dominique speechless. Wynand possesses this secret gallery because he loathes men and this gallery acts as a private oasis that he can visit and it is kept from the public eye because he can visit it and know that he is completely secluded from the masses.
The couple takes a venturesome cruise on Wynand’s yacht named I Do. Although many people have wondered at the odd name, Wynand had never given an explanation for it, with the exception of Dominique. The name of the yacht signifies Wynand’s life as a child and how he never was in charge of anything, the I Do contradicts that. On their cruise Wynand proposes marriage to Dominique. Although the sudden proposal surprises her, she accepts.
When Dominique and Wynand return to New York he gives Keating $250,000 and the contract for Stoneridge. Keating begins to feel guilty and realizes that he loves Dominique. Ellsworth despises the union between Dominique and Wynand, because both characters pose a threat to him, because they are the only characters within the novel that think on their own. Although Dominique is engaged to Wynand she has a deep affection for another man; Howard Roark. Dominique sneaks a visit to his construction site in Clayton, Ohio. Her news is painful for Roark to hear but he doesn’t object because he knows that it is Dominique’s way of punishing herself for corrupting his career. Ellsworth’s newly formed Council of American Writers meet to collaborate plays they have written. Ike, one of Ellsworth’s members, reads his and despite it being awful, the young members say that it is well written and congratulate him. Peter Keating searches for an architect to become his partner after Guy Francon, the owner of Francon and Heyer, retires.
Dominique and Wynand get married in an elaborate ceremony within an exclusive hotel. Their news floods every newspaper except for The Banner; Wynand’s strict orders kept the employees of The Banner from covering the heated topic. Dominique and Wynand stay within the quarters of their penthouse for weeks without leaving. However, by the time spring rolls around, Wynand leaves for a publisher’s convention. When he returns Dominique convinces him to attend Ike’s play that The Banner has praised, despite its obvious lack of ingenuity. This is one of the rare evenings that Dominique and Wynand venture from the comforts of their penthouse. This escalates Dominique into an argument. She discusses with Wynand that they are both selfish because they have secluded themselves from the world, Wynand lashes back saying that he despises perfection and claims that there are no perfect men in the world.
As part three comes to a closing Wynand announces to Dominique that he wants to erect a building like no other in Hell’s Kitchen and a house in the country for him Dominique. While Wynand is tied up in accomplishing these tasks he fails to notice that Ellsworth has been replacing employees of The Banner with his favorites in an effort to take over the paper. Dominique tries to warn him of this but he shrugs it off and laughs thinking that her claims are outrageous. Wynand tells Dominique that he truly loves her but she tells him that she doesn’t feel the same way. She apologizes for her lack of affection in their marriage. However he reassures her that he doesn’t care because she gives his life meaning.
Wynand grew up in the formidable slums of New York, known as Hell’s Kitchen,under the care of his father. He taught himself to read and write at the age five, but his attendance at school was short lived when he lost interest in it because the teacher refused to exceed a sluggish pace. At the age of sixteen Wynand was plagued with adversity as his father passed away. As time progressed, he picked up an interest for the local newspaper, The Gazette. He started out by just hanging around, and before long he becomes the associate director that loved every minute of it. However his love for The Gazette quickly dwindles away when he learns that the paper is corrupting the most honest man Wynand knew, Police Captain Pat Mulligan. Wynand is persistent with destroying the heedless company. After his relentless behavior, Wynand wrangled control from the previous owners of The Gazette and this is turning it into The Banner.
He oriented The Banner’s content around what the public wanted to hear. Wynand corrupted men’s identities by forcing them to do what he wanted because it gave him a sense of control and therefore a sense of power. He accomplished this control by obtaining employees for The Banner and then if they chose to quit he would transform their lives into a series of miserable events. One of his employees in particular is Ellsworth Toohey, a tenacious man with a lust for power. He is uncertain of Wynand’s quirky ways at first but, as the novel progresses, he completely disagrees with everything Wynand does. Another employee is, Alvah Scarret, The Banner’s editor in chief and, although he questions him, he clings to Wynand out of habit. Wynand possess an elaborate art gallery secluded from the public eye.When he puts the gun down and refrains from suicide, Wynand goes downstairs to find a sculpture of Dominique Francon given to him by Ellsworth. Dominique was also an employee of The Banner.
Wynand finds himself in a hunt for a suitable architect to build his development known as Stoneridge. Ellsworth recommends Peter Keating, one of New York’s best architects and husband to Dominique. Peter uses his wife and her ability to provocatively manipulate people in order to land commissions. Therefore when Wynand receives the sculpture of the alluring woman he agrees to meet with her. They instantly connect and Wynand is exasperated as he observes Dominique; she is even more ravishing than her sculpture. After a little bargaining Wynand strikes a deal; he will let Keating have Stoneridge in exchange for Dominique. Later that evening Wynand invitedDominique into his art gallery that hasn’t been open to anyone. The plethora of masterpieces leaves Dominique speechless. Wynand possesses this secret gallery because he loathes men and this gallery acts as a private oasis that he can visit and it is kept from the public eye because he can visit it and know that he is completely secluded from the masses.
The couple takes a venturesome cruise on Wynand’s yacht named I Do. Although many people have wondered at the odd name, Wynand had never given an explanation for it, with the exception of Dominique. The name of the yacht signifies Wynand’s life as a child and how he never was in charge of anything, the I Do contradicts that. On their cruise Wynand proposes marriage to Dominique. Although the sudden proposal surprises her, she accepts.
When Dominique and Wynand return to New York he gives Keating $250,000 and the contract for Stoneridge. Keating begins to feel guilty and realizes that he loves Dominique. Ellsworth despises the union between Dominique and Wynand, because both characters pose a threat to him, because they are the only characters within the novel that think on their own. Although Dominique is engaged to Wynand she has a deep affection for another man; Howard Roark. Dominique sneaks a visit to his construction site in Clayton, Ohio. Her news is painful for Roark to hear but he doesn’t object because he knows that it is Dominique’s way of punishing herself for corrupting his career. Ellsworth’s newly formed Council of American Writers meet to collaborate plays they have written. Ike, one of Ellsworth’s members, reads his and despite it being awful, the young members say that it is well written and congratulate him. Peter Keating searches for an architect to become his partner after Guy Francon, the owner of Francon and Heyer, retires.
Dominique and Wynand get married in an elaborate ceremony within an exclusive hotel. Their news floods every newspaper except for The Banner; Wynand’s strict orders kept the employees of The Banner from covering the heated topic. Dominique and Wynand stay within the quarters of their penthouse for weeks without leaving. However, by the time spring rolls around, Wynand leaves for a publisher’s convention. When he returns Dominique convinces him to attend Ike’s play that The Banner has praised, despite its obvious lack of ingenuity. This is one of the rare evenings that Dominique and Wynand venture from the comforts of their penthouse. This escalates Dominique into an argument. She discusses with Wynand that they are both selfish because they have secluded themselves from the world, Wynand lashes back saying that he despises perfection and claims that there are no perfect men in the world.
As part three comes to a closing Wynand announces to Dominique that he wants to erect a building like no other in Hell’s Kitchen and a house in the country for him Dominique. While Wynand is tied up in accomplishing these tasks he fails to notice that Ellsworth has been replacing employees of The Banner with his favorites in an effort to take over the paper. Dominique tries to warn him of this but he shrugs it off and laughs thinking that her claims are outrageous. Wynand tells Dominique that he truly loves her but she tells him that she doesn’t feel the same way. She apologizes for her lack of affection in their marriage. However he reassures her that he doesn’t care because she gives his life meaning.