Gone Girl

Dear Melodrama Enthusiast,

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is a chilling metamorphous of melodrama and murder mystery. The 2012 novel, and recently released 2014 film by David Fincher, tells a story of Nick and Amy Dunne, a couple whose marriage falls apart after relocating to a small Missouri town from New York City. Amy has disappeared on her 5-year wedding anniversary and the police are suspicious that Nick has killed her. The first half of the story is told in first person, alternately by both Nick and Amy. The chapters are short, only a few pages long, and always ends on a cliffhanger. The second half of the story reveals that Amy and Nick are unreliable narrators and that the reader/viewer has not been told the whole truth. 

The pressure that Peter Brooks discusses as an integral component of melodrama is certainly felt in Gone Girl. Amy feels pressure from Nick to be the “perfect” wife, Nick feels pressure from Amy to be the “perfect” husband, the police officers in the Missouri town feel pressure to pin Nick for Amy’s disappearance, Nick’s sister feels pressure to protect her brother, Amy’s childhood “stalker” feels pressure to protect Amy during her disappearance, and both Amy and Nick feel pressure to hurt each other. The pressure within the story was so great that while reading the novel I could not seem to put the book down and while watching the film I was sitting at the edge of my seat. At times I even felt my chest getting heavy and felt the impulse to cover my eyes, not because what I was reading/watching was scary but because the pressure was so great. Additionally, hearing the music in the film and the soft/detached tones in the actors' voices as this murder mystery unfolded caused me to have goosebumps. As such, this story has the capability of evoking a physical and emotional reaction out of the reader/viewer. 

Death, a theme that has been prevalent in many melodramatic works, was certainly looming over this story. Some questions that are constantly being grappled with are: Is Amy dead? Did Nick kill Amy? Will Amy kill herself? Will Amy kill Nick? I would tell you what happens, but I’d rather you read the book or see the film. Another element to consider is not just physical death, but also internal/emotional "death". Do relationships have the capacity to kill individuals internally/emotionally? Does Amy and Nick's marriage kill them inside? Since the story is so twisted and the characters have so many faults of their own, I don't think this question has a right or wrong answer.

Another component of melodrama, gesture, is widespread throughout the story. Amy offers Nick gestures in the form of clues for a treasure hunt on their anniversary. However, these gestures turn out to be a giant game intended to destroy Nick. Again, I would tell you what happens, but it’s better for you to read/watch for yourself.

I also thought that dualism amongst characters played a large role in this melodrama, which is not something we've discussed too much in class. For example, Nick is the type of guy who "watches reality TV with one hand down his pants" while Amy is a type-A, Ivy League grad. Moreover, Amy is a well put together, sophisticated, and independent woman while Andie (another female character whose role I don't want to spoil for you) is a "flakey" young girl who cannot seem to function without Nick. I think that these stark character differences help enhance the tension and pressure throughout the story.

Actors present in Gone Girl that have not been seen in any of the melodramatic works discussed in class thus far are devious media and and a troubled economy. Both have negative impacts on Nick and Amy as individuals and Nick and Amy as a couple, and those consequences assist in creating an overwhelming melodramatic feel throughout the story. I think this story is a nice representation of the effect that societal structures and/or institutions can have on singular lives and relationships. If it weren't for the economy displacing Amy and Nick from NYC to Missouri and the media exacerbating Amy's disappearance, Gone Girl and all of its glory would cease to exist. 

On the whole, I would argue that this story is commentary on yet another essential melodramatic theme, good versus bad. Flynn is wrestling with the concept of good versus bad by asking questions relating to marriage: What constitutes a good marriage? Can there ever be a good marriage? What makes a marriage bad? Can bad marriages ever change into good marriages? I wish I could say after walking away from the novel and film that I had answers to these questions but I think the story left me even more confused. Perhaps the simple answer to all of these questions is that marriage is messy and in constant flux with good and bad. Nonetheless, the story is a message that relationships are difficult and will always involve compromise. 

I hope that you consider reading Gone Girl or going out to see the film. I can say with 100% confidence that this book was one of the best books I have ever read and I think anyone would benefit from reading this intimate melodramatic physiological thriller.

 Once you do decide to read the book or see the film, here are some questions to keep in mind:
1. Does the actual physical violence that takes place or the threat of physical violence create more pressure within the story? 
2. Could the story have ended any differently or was that ending the only possible option?
3. What is the role of conflicting morals throughout the story? 
4. How does location add to the melodramatic frame of the story? 
5. What similarities are there between this story and other melodramatic works?

Sincerely,

An Obvious Gone Girl Fan