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Essay / Representation of masculinity in Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Our society today is very different from that of a few years ago. In the past, society was based on masculinity, as strong as possible. Men were once the dominant sex while women were considered weaker and less respectable. However, in the modern era, masculinity is less important than it used to be. People care less about being the most masculine and instead care about shopping, clothing and consumer products and trying to have as many consumer products as possible. Fight Club follows the story of the Narrator and his friend Tyler Durden, as they attempt to regain control of their masculinity in this more feminine world. However, their journey will show that unchecked masculinity is dangerous and is as bad, if not worse, than the consumerist society in which they live. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The story begins with the narrator on the upper floors of a skyscraper with a gun in his mouth. The gun is owned by his friend Tyler Durden. The narrator explains that he and Tyler both know a lot of information about the same things. Then the book returns to the very beginning of the journey. The narrator is in a cancer support group, crying while being held by Bob, who is a good example of the theme of masculinity. The Narrator is unable to sleep and has to go to support groups that he doesn't need because it's the only thing that helps his insomnia. Bob is a former bodybuilder. Bob was using steroids and as a result, he contracted testicular cancer. He had to have his testicles surgically removed, and due to a hormonal imbalance, he ended up developing breasts similar to those of a woman. Bob is a great representation of the emasculation and feminization that we fight against in Fight Club. This is because Bob started out as very masculine but then found himself without testicles or breasts. Bob is the only character in the play who is literally emasculated. The Narrator finds comfort in the many support groups he has joined under false pretenses. Until a woman named Marla Singer began frequenting these same groups, causing a resurgence of the Narrator's insomnia. The Narrator works at a large automobile company as a recall coordinator, a job that requires nothing masculine at all. Then the Narrator meets Tyler. Tyler Durden is the Narrator's alter ego. He's a cooler, calmer, more masculine version of the Narrator. The narrator forms a very strong friendship in the story. When the Narrator's apartment explodes, Tyler lets him stay at his place. Tyler lives very differently from the Narrator. The narrator works in an office, lives in a modern condo, and purchases many consumer products. Tyler works as a projectionist who inserts pornographic images into children's films and as a waiter at an expensive restaurant who urinates in soup. He also uses and sells soap that he makes himself. Not only does Tyler not work an office job, but in the jobs he does, he does his best to ruin the customer experience. The fact that he creates soap also shows that he does not purchase consumer products like the Narrator does. Tyler also squats in a dilapidated mansion, which is a stark contrast to the new manufactured condo the Narrator paid for. Tyler does his best to boycott and rebel against the emasculated, consumerist society in which he lives. Tyler and the Narrator create Fight Club together out of needto take back the masculinity that this new world has taken from them. Then it's explained that most people who enter Fight Club usually don't have a father in their life and were raised by their mother. The Narrator and Tyler have a very strong camaraderie. They start Fight Club together and Tyler lets the Narrator live with him and he teaches the Narrator how to make soap. The only thing that threatens him is Marla. Marla is a threat to Tyler, his masculine rebellion and his friendship with the Narrator. Marla is the only main character in the book who is female. Marla attempts to overdose on Xanax and is saved by Tyler. Tyler doesn't take her to the hospital but sleeps with her to make sure she stays awake all night. At first, the narrator doesn't like the way Tyler is sleeping with Marla because he thinks she's taking up Tyler's time. The Narrator begins to care for Marla and since Marla is not part of Tyler's male dream, he tries to get rid of her and make the Narrator forget about her. Marla is also part of the Narrator's desire to beat Tyler. Marla also doesn't like killing like Tyler. She is fascinated by death but she disagrees with the idea of killing people. Another example of this masculinity can be seen in Tyler's dream. Tyler wants to create a new society, but in this new society he would rule the world. In the current world we live in, the leader of the country is chosen by the people. Voters and candidates can be anyone and their masculinity doesn't matter, even a woman could be president, someone who is not masculine. In America, where the book is set, there are many non-male people who vote, the condition for voting is not being a criminal, being a citizen of the country and being 18 years or older. Being president usually depends on which campaign or candidate is the most popular. They may be intelligent, well-spoken, and have experience with the country's laws and systems. Being president isn't just about your masculinity. Tyler wants to rule the world and since he is the most powerful and masculine, he thinks he should be the ruler, because the ruler should be someone strong. In his survival in the world the fittest, he would be the most respected and the strongest, he believes that he deserves to be the leader of his new world and that the people living there would agree with his ideals. Fight Club itself is a very masculine creation. It's reserved for men. These men fight among themselves because it's a lot of fun for them. Their work is boring and their life is boring, but Fight Club really makes them feel alive. Pain and visceral fighting pose a lot of danger in Fight Club and it's the reason people keep coming back. The Narrator notes that even in his own office, he will see people who are incompetent at their jobs dominating at Fight Club. Many of them have bruises and injuries, but Fight Club's only acknowledgment is a knowing look. The fights celebrate their masculine roots and allow fighters to use their aggressive tendencies and strength. The Narrator no longer needs his cancer support groups since Fight Club lets him sleep like he never suffered from insomnia. Marla even wonders why he doesn't show up to group meetings. In the repressed society they live in, they can finally release all their pent-up emotions. Unlike today's society, Fight Club members don't care about looking good or improving themselves. Instead, they want to hurt others and be hurt by others. Fight Club becomes very popular thanks to this. The Narrator decides to stay out of the way.