Rollercoaster

Dominique Francon, a central character in the novel The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand, falls in love yet wishes to destroy the protagonist of the novel, Howard Roark. Dominique love for Roark stems from her recognition of Roark’s greatness and individuality and wishes to destroy him before the rest of society can. Also a hidden motive for his destruction may come from the fear of the similarities the two of them share. She believes that by destroying Roark, she is saving him thus making sure her greatest fear never comes to life.
In a society where altruism is believed to be an important virtue, independent creators like Roark and Cameron are left with nothing. Dominique recognizes man’s ability for achievement and is attracted to that which is why she falls in love with Roark. Because she recognizes this, she loathes most people who fall below true human potential. She places very little value in men since she believes, "Ask anything of men. Ask them to achieve wealth, fame, love, brutality, murder, self-sacrifice. But don't ask them to achieve self-respect. They will hate your soul" (Rand 355). In the courtroom when testifying against Roark in the Stoddard Trial, Dominique asserts, "When you see a man casting pearls without getting even a pork chop in return--it is not against the swine that you feel indignation. It is against the man who valued his pearls so little that he was willing to fling them into the muck and let them become the occasion for a whole concert of grunting...."(Rand 356). Dominique is overall a pessimist and that only the corrupt and evil (Keating and Toohey) will be successful in the society. So because of Dominique’s love for men who are at their highest potential, she loves Roark; yet, because of her pessimis...

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...s thirst for Roark destruction originates from several different reasons despite the love Dominique shares with Roark. Because Dominique loves Roark, she feels that be destroying him, she is at the same time protecting him. Dominique understands that Roark’s individualistic, non-conforming personality will not be viewed as distasteful by society and believes that he will fall. She feels that it would be better for Roark to fall by the hand of someone who loves him instead of by the cold, cruel hand of society. Also, Dominique is afraid of the similarities between them, but cannot accept how unaffected Roark is from the world while the same cannot be the said for her. This is hidden motivation for her desire to destroy him since it gives her hope that she too can succeed in this world. After all, the only thing stronger than fear is hope.

Works Cited

Fountainhead