The Fountainhead is a book rifled with selfless manipulation, but part three mainly focuses on the themes of power, manipulation, unrequited love, and change. All these themes have a various effects on the remainder of the novel, but they’re most prevalent in this section. Ayn Rand showed the effect of what change can bring through accepting being selfish, and letting yourself go down the dark path of selflessness.
Manipulation is a common theme that is vital to the storyline within part three. There are many characters that fall victim to the dark schemes of manipulation. Dominique Francon proves to be one of the most common characters associated with this dark idea. Keating lands his commissions through her ability to manipulate and seduce the men, until they can’t refuse the job. This is taken to an extreme degree when Dominique goes to visit Wynand in order to manipulate him into giving Keating Stoneridge, one of the most sought after commissions of this time period. She not only seduces him into giving Keating the commission but captivates him enough to propose marriage and as a result, steal her from Keating. Ayn Rand also utilizes the idea of manipulation in this aspect because Keating was also a victim of manipulation because he was bribed into relinquishing Dominique. Therefore she wasn’t the only characterincorporated into the tangled web of deceit.
Ellsworth Toohey was another mastermind of utilizing manipulation because he used people to accomplish certain tasks. Healso manipulated Wynand by introducing him to Dominique. He believed that Wynand would propose marriage which would veer his attention away from The Banner and allow Toohey to formulate his deceitful plot to overrun the newspaper company and replace all of the employees with workers who he saw fitto gain contral of the masses he also wanted Dominique to marry Wynand because she stands as a formidable barrier between him and power, and he claims that a marriage with Wynand would cloud her vision of becoming a rescuer. This plays a considerable role to part three because Toohey’s main plot is to obtain political power and he must clear all barricades that stand in his way, he accomplishes this through manipulation.
Love is a substantial theme in most novels; however, it is unrequited love that is prominent within Fountainhead, especially in part three. Many relationships are formulated throughout the course of this part, the most prevalent one being that of Dominique and Wynand. Their union was brought upon by deceitful schemes and this leaves Dominique resenting Wynand. However, he is compelled by everything that she stands for; even claiming that she “gives his life meaning.” This is where the unrequited aspect of love comes into play,because their relationship consists of a one-sided affection. Wynand has deep appeals for Dominique whereas she expresses no feelings back to him. This is also because she loathes men who lack the ability to think on their own and express their own ideals. That is why Dominique and Keating’s relationship is another example of unrequited love. He loves her, but she does not love him, in fact, she even despises him. This plays a key role in the storyline of part three because Dominique yearns for Roark, because she loves his selfish demeanor. This could not be expressed if it weren’t for the idea of unrequited love because then Ayn Rand wouldn’t have been able to show how much Dominique loathes selfless men.
Change is a prevalent theme throughout part three; you see change in most of the main characters excluding Roark. Wynand is power hungry and he controls the most powerful newspaper he is able to crush people simply by putting out an editorial. But, once he meets Dominique and expresses himself with her, you see a change; Wynand starts to know himself a bit more, and admit his faults to Dominique. The most drastic change is probably with Dominique, she goes from a clay model who says whatever her husband wants her to hear, to someone a lot less selfless and more in tune with herself, much like Wynand. Easily the saddest change was with Keating. His chances at redemption have all crumbled. Dominique leaves him and he falls apart, becoming a hollow shell of a man. All this contributes to Roark’s life greatly, the love between him and Dominique spread, and Wynand’s new perception on life eventually helps give Roark a new friendship and a new contract.
Power is used by Ayn Rand to show how the path of selflessness leads you to a dark place. Right from the beginning Wynand, one of the richest and most powerful men, is contemplating suicide. Wynand decided to be selfless during his childhood and this has only won him respect of the sheep. Despite Keating’s highest desires to become the greatest architect, have the greatest wife, and his aspiration of power, he still crumbles into nothing and loses everything including his identity. Meanwhile Roark, someone who needs nobody is happier than the ones with everything being that he is selfish and he is happy as long as he designs his buildings the way he desires.
Manipulation is a common theme that is vital to the storyline within part three. There are many characters that fall victim to the dark schemes of manipulation. Dominique Francon proves to be one of the most common characters associated with this dark idea. Keating lands his commissions through her ability to manipulate and seduce the men, until they can’t refuse the job. This is taken to an extreme degree when Dominique goes to visit Wynand in order to manipulate him into giving Keating Stoneridge, one of the most sought after commissions of this time period. She not only seduces him into giving Keating the commission but captivates him enough to propose marriage and as a result, steal her from Keating. Ayn Rand also utilizes the idea of manipulation in this aspect because Keating was also a victim of manipulation because he was bribed into relinquishing Dominique. Therefore she wasn’t the only characterincorporated into the tangled web of deceit.
Ellsworth Toohey was another mastermind of utilizing manipulation because he used people to accomplish certain tasks. Healso manipulated Wynand by introducing him to Dominique. He believed that Wynand would propose marriage which would veer his attention away from The Banner and allow Toohey to formulate his deceitful plot to overrun the newspaper company and replace all of the employees with workers who he saw fitto gain contral of the masses he also wanted Dominique to marry Wynand because she stands as a formidable barrier between him and power, and he claims that a marriage with Wynand would cloud her vision of becoming a rescuer. This plays a considerable role to part three because Toohey’s main plot is to obtain political power and he must clear all barricades that stand in his way, he accomplishes this through manipulation.
Love is a substantial theme in most novels; however, it is unrequited love that is prominent within Fountainhead, especially in part three. Many relationships are formulated throughout the course of this part, the most prevalent one being that of Dominique and Wynand. Their union was brought upon by deceitful schemes and this leaves Dominique resenting Wynand. However, he is compelled by everything that she stands for; even claiming that she “gives his life meaning.” This is where the unrequited aspect of love comes into play,because their relationship consists of a one-sided affection. Wynand has deep appeals for Dominique whereas she expresses no feelings back to him. This is also because she loathes men who lack the ability to think on their own and express their own ideals. That is why Dominique and Keating’s relationship is another example of unrequited love. He loves her, but she does not love him, in fact, she even despises him. This plays a key role in the storyline of part three because Dominique yearns for Roark, because she loves his selfish demeanor. This could not be expressed if it weren’t for the idea of unrequited love because then Ayn Rand wouldn’t have been able to show how much Dominique loathes selfless men.
Change is a prevalent theme throughout part three; you see change in most of the main characters excluding Roark. Wynand is power hungry and he controls the most powerful newspaper he is able to crush people simply by putting out an editorial. But, once he meets Dominique and expresses himself with her, you see a change; Wynand starts to know himself a bit more, and admit his faults to Dominique. The most drastic change is probably with Dominique, she goes from a clay model who says whatever her husband wants her to hear, to someone a lot less selfless and more in tune with herself, much like Wynand. Easily the saddest change was with Keating. His chances at redemption have all crumbled. Dominique leaves him and he falls apart, becoming a hollow shell of a man. All this contributes to Roark’s life greatly, the love between him and Dominique spread, and Wynand’s new perception on life eventually helps give Roark a new friendship and a new contract.
Power is used by Ayn Rand to show how the path of selflessness leads you to a dark place. Right from the beginning Wynand, one of the richest and most powerful men, is contemplating suicide. Wynand decided to be selfless during his childhood and this has only won him respect of the sheep. Despite Keating’s highest desires to become the greatest architect, have the greatest wife, and his aspiration of power, he still crumbles into nothing and loses everything including his identity. Meanwhile Roark, someone who needs nobody is happier than the ones with everything being that he is selfish and he is happy as long as he designs his buildings the way he desires.