Fight club is claimed to be a Gothic Story. I think that it does have several of the elements essential for a gothic novel, but it is also missing a few (at least in the movie). There is definitely the old gothic castle represented in Tyler's house. Is is old, falling apart, and there are odd problems that occur in it that can seem "supernatural". There is also the element of the grotesque. This is without a doubt. It is not a fantasy, but that actions and the imagery could easily fall within this category.
Unfortunately, there is no heroine. Marla is a prominent female character, but she is not a heroine in distress. She meets the narrator in these support groups, but is not in need of rescue from the narrator; Marla simply interacts with the narrator to give us clues about his condition that is revealed at the end. There is also no real moral closure. We do come to an understanding at the end of the novel/ movie, but it does not really teach us anything. There is no moral lesson learned from viewing the movie.
This film is gothic, but in comparison to the novels and short stories we have read it is a more modern gothic I think it is definitely reflected by the idea that men are the ones who are suppressed and can no longer express their primal nature. Just as Jason said this is why the heroine is absent.
ReplyDeleteI can see maybe a bit where Marla might be a heroine, because she helps the narrator find out that he is also Tyler. She did not do anything very significant, but it's just a thought. I think there are many elements it may take some extra thinking to see some of them.
ReplyDeleteI agree Joseph that I think Marla could be considered a heroine. Not all gothic works have to have the exact same characters and same plot lines. I remember in Northanger Abbey the book starts off by stating how the heroine is not your average heroine. The narrator never would have realized he was Tyler without her, and thats what a heroine's job is... to help the main character in some way.
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