Unlike what the famous biblical passage in First Corinthians says, love is not "gentle or kind" in The Fountainhead. In fact, love is dark, twisted, furious, and violent.
The types of romantic love depicted in Rand's novel are seriously screwed up. Keating and Katie's relationship is a disaster; Dominique and Roark's affair is borderline abusive, and Dominique and Keating's marriage takes a page from Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
Love might not be positive here, but it is something very powerful and very real. Also, in this novel, love isn't always about romantic relationships. Love of ideas (and even things) is very important, exemplified by Roark's love for his work and his buildings. His love ties into his personal pride and his strong individualism.
Questions About Love
- Roark and Wynand have something of a bromance together. Do these two crazy kids love one another, or is their relationship based more on platonic respect and mutual interests?
- What does Dominique and Roark's relationship tell us about how the novel understands love?
- Does Keating ever really love anything during the course of the novel?
- What does Toohey seem to think about love—is he a fan or not?
Chew on This
Dominique and Roark's love affair might be intense, but it is ultimately twisted, damaging, and unhealthy.
Dominique and Roark's love affair is a positive thing and helps to emphasize the book's themes of individuality and personal pride.