(Re)Structuring the Personality in Gone Girl: A Psychoanalytical Study

Abstract

This research investigates the (Re) Structuring of personality in Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The study aims to explore the complexity of the Characters –Amy and Nick Dunne by exploring the relationship between conscious and unconscious motivations, impact of trauma, deception, and manipulation on their identities through the lens of psychoanalytical theory. Using the Iceberg model of mind by Freud which deals with conscious, preconscious and unconscious level of mind. It also explores the id, ego and superego which helps in creating the characters’ behaviour and personalities and Lacanian psychoanalytical perspective which focuses on the triad Imaginary, Symbolic and Real of psyche development. This qualitative research employs extensive textual analysis to unveil and clarify the characters' psychological complexities, finally finding that the novel's narrative tension stems from the intricate interaction of conscious and unconscious impulses. Moreover, this research uncovers the protagonists’ psychological perspectives which are shaped by repressed desires, past experiences, and societal expectations. It further argues that the novel's narrative structure, characterized by its dual perspectives and unreliable narrators, mirrors the fractured and multifaceted nature of human personality. Through a detailed exploration of themes such as identity formation, relational dynamics, and the blurring of reality and illusion, the study formulates a deeper understanding of the psychological reinforcements in contemporary literature. By highlighting the transformative and often destructive forces at play within the psyche, the research offers insights into the complexities of human behaviour and the relentless pursuit of self-coherence amidst chaos.