The narrator wants the reader to become the type of person who is cynical and a bit of a loner but he knows that most people aren’t like that so he has to be cunning. In chapter 7, Joe talks about his obsession with Tyler. He says, “How could I compete for Tyler’s attention?” So now he’s mad at Marla for ruining his meditative times during the group meetings and stealing Tyler’s attention from him. The author knows they have to portray the image of absolute craziness but still make it accessible and relatable to the reader. It’s not very common to become obsessed with a friend and having all of their attention – Joe is on the broad end of the spectrum in that respect; however, it is common to feel upset when a very close friend is making a lot of time for someone else when you want to spend time with them. The latter is something everyone can relate to, especially during the teenage years and early twenties. The narrator causes skepticism with the craziness that comes from Joe’s obsession but then reels the reader back in with more normal thoughts such as when Joe says, “I make friends. They get married. I lose friends.” The author
uses this tactic throughout the book. One second you think the narrator is crazy as hell and the next you can relate to what they feel. There are more than two personalities in this book. Being a lonely person is just one of the many types of readers that the author speaks to.
This tactic of going back and forth from crazy to relatable is what makes it so easy for the reader to become a “space monkey” and go through the motions of the text. The narrator wants to keep control of you as much as he wants control of Tyler, and even Marla. He doesn’t want to lose you by causing you to think this is too far-fetched and crazy. The actions of these characters are lunacy, however the feelings such as loneliness and skepticism are common. The author wants you to feel both to the extreme that you can almost understand this man. His extreme actions are justified by his satirical ideas which the author slyly puts in a less crazy way so the submissive reader doesn’t become highly resistant.
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Having finished this book, I wonder if you see this blog differently. When it’s revealed that Joe is Tyler, the lunacy reaches another level. It also means that Joe resented Marla for taking up his time with Tyler, which was time with himself (or at least time spent between two different versions of his “self”). It’s also worth investigating if Joe constructed Tyler, or if Tyler constructed Joe. Or maybe they were both always there. Two-ness?
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Hey Christina,
I have yet had the chance to read Fight Club for myself, however, I was really impressed on how you emphasized on the Rhetoric Narrative and the struggle between controlling values of the submissive reader and the resistant reader; as well as focusing on the forms the author choose to write in to captivate and hold the readers attention. In my blogs I have found it quite difficult to express what your were able to clearly define in this blog. Thank you for sharing your insight into this book. I am going to add Fight Club to the top of my personal reading list.
Thank you,
MD
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Great job on your post! I have not read this book, but I have seen the movie many times. I love your interpretation of how the narrator speaks to the intended audience. You say, “The narrator wants to keep control of you as much as he wants control of Tyler, and even Marla.” I really liked this take on the text. The relationship between the narrator and addressee is crucial. Very good job! I am definitely going to add this book to my reading list.
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