Author: Ayn Rand
This is a complex, philosophical novel based on..Individualism vs Collectivism.
Howard Roark (the hero): A brilliant young architect, who loves his work, gets expelled from architectural institute as he is not willing to follow the conventional education there. Roark wants to build in his own way and works with only those who give him freedom, unconditionally. Even when he is penniless he is not ready to do work in his client’s way. Once Roark joins in a quarry, as he feels it is better to work there than losing his integrity. There he sees Dominique, the heroine of the story. Eventually a bond develops between the 2 and one day Roark rapes Dominique (yea u heard it right...he rapes her !!!) and goes back to the city as he gets a client over there. the rest is about how he struggles n becomes successful, against odds. Towards the end, he designs a building with the deal that his designs should not be modified…but due to interference of few people the final construction has modifications. So Roark blasts that building and gets arrested. In the end gives a loooooong speech in court on individualism, independent thinking and how parasites (who depend on others) are trying destroying creators. Court declares him as not guilty he then continues to do his work in his own way.
Dominique (the heroine): she is the most complex character of this story. She is the daughter of Guy Francon of FRANCON & HEYER,ARCHITECTS. She works in newspaper BANNER of Gail Wynand. Dominique is the only character who understands Roark. She loves him. Dominique tries to stop every client that Roark gets and even marries peter!!(Don’t ask me why …even I dint understand it completely :P :D ) She latter marries Gail as an exchange to a prestigious contract to peter. In the end she comes back to Roark ….
Peter Keating: He is someone who is ready to do anything for fame. He is a friend of Roark in college, becomes a famous architect with the help of Roark in most of his famous constructions. Even from his college peter is very jealous about Roark and hates him, as Peter is someone who always focuses on "what others are thinking about him" and depends on others opinions in making decisions, unlike Roark. He marries Dominique as she is the daughter of his boss, though he loves another girl. He later trades Dominique with Gail Wynand to get a contract of a construction.
Ellsworth Toohey (the villain of the story): He is a critic, who tries to pull down anyone who is talented in their profession. He influences people by preaching collectivism and altruism. He tries to destroy Roark by criticizing his constructions and his attitude towards work.
Gail Wynand ( the bakara of the story ) : He is the owner of a newspaper, BANNER. He falls in love with Dominique, marries her and asks Roark to build a home for them. He becomes Roark’s very good friend and even gets himself into trouble for supporting Roark through his paper, when he destroyed a building.
The only highlight of the story is the character of ROARK …his conversations with dean, Henry Cameron, etc are interesting and tad inspiring. He never thinks about others (he values others freedom but is never interested in others opinions or impressing others), never argues or debates, values his integrity even in the most difficult times, never demands anything from anyone not even from his love Dominique….I don’t disagree with any of his thoughts or actions except blasting of the building & accepting Dominique in the end !!
I dint like this book in many places…firstly I am not interested in architecture so wherever there is description of buildings/ surroundings it bored and I skipped those pages. Secondly the chemistry between Roark and Dominique is shit ... the reasons for Dominique’s actions are very complex to understand. Gail is a good friend of Roark and even gets himself into trouble by helping Roark, then how the hell can Roark immediately accept Dominique, who is then the wife of Gail, without considering Gail’s feelings.
The author completely favored individualism and tried to show collectivism as a sin… generalizing like that is absurd. Author mentioned in many places that everyone tries to destroy who loves their work …dats silly, it doesn’t happen everywhere.
"The Fountainhead" is worth reading and is surely thought provoking.
