Love & Independence

One of the questions we didn't discuss during our Socratic Seminar on The Fountainhead was a question towards the end of the sheet, asking what the novel's message of independence meant to our current lives. Personally, I find the fact that the book tells you to be independent to be ironic, in the sense that saying "Don't tell me what to do" is hypocritical. But, nonetheless, the book does point out something important- that you should be taking control of your own life instead of being "dominated by others". 

I would say this relates very largely to my own life at the moment because me and my girlfriend broke up very recently. I'll skip the bitter complaining and jump straight to the point: I was being "dominated" by her, and when she broke up with me, especially the way she did, I realized that, not only was the feeling mutual, but the relationship was downright bad for me. 

Looking back over our five month history together, my ex was never the one to show feelings first, or do anything in our relationship first. Sure, she would join in once I started, our would hang out if I asked, but she never asked me if I wanted to hang out or do anything. You might think this meant I was the one in charge in our relationship, but really, I was the desperate crackhead, and she the bemused and obliging dealer. 

So what does The Fountainhead's message have to do with my relationship troubles? It actually teaches me some very important lessons; not only should I not rely on the opiate of love to make myself happy, I should also not base my sense of self-worth off of what some slimy succubus thinks of me. This is my life; I am the captain of my soul, and the ship is leaving port with one less piece of deadweight in tow.