Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk is an anarchic and pessimistic novel that portrays the need for identity in life and Palahniuk explains, through the narrator's personality disorder, that the desire for meaning is the only internal motivation of civilization. In the narrator's speech throughout the novel, Palahniuk describes how a death without identity is the worst possible death. First in Fight Club and then in Project Mayhem, Tyler Durden's character shows how ultimate motivation comes from a person's need to own a place in history. The author explains that the path to finding one's meaning is not easy and can actually turn into a desperate and indecisive struggle, as in the case of the narrator. Fight Club shares a modern perspective on the meaning of life and describes how desire can influence the lives of men and women around the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Palahniuk provides his first perspective on the desire for meaning in life through the action of the narrator. The narrator lives a life without meaning and realizes that a death without identity would be a waste of time on earth. His insomnia makes the situation even worse. At the beginning of the book he feels like a space monkey and states: “Do the little job you are trained to do. Pull a lever. Press a button. You don't understand anything and then you die” (p. 12). This commentary introduces the reader to the intense need for meaning in society. Most people find meaning in material possessions, but the narrator, after losing all of his possessions in the explosion of his apartment building, senses that the true meaning of his life will be in what he accomplishes. The narrator's search for meaning ultimately leads to the formation of Tyler Durden, his alter ego. Tyler is everything the narrator wants to be. It is the prime example of what the narrator wants in life. As the novel progresses, the narrator becomes more and more like Tyler. He develops into the person he wants to become and this comes from motivation in his search for meaning. This evolution depends on Fight Club, which he created to provide an outlet for society. In Fight Club the narrator is free. He states, “After Fight Club you're so relaxed you don't care” (p. 139). This relaxation allows the narrator to focus on his own life and influence the lives of other men. Without this ability, the narrator would be just another space monkey. The author explains how a lack of identity provides motivation, and this is exemplified in Tyler and the narrator. In Fight Club and Project Mayhem Tyler Durden shows how the ultimate motivation will come from a person's need to own a place in history. Tyler creates a Fight Club based on this principle. Fight Club offers an outlet for anyone who is tired of their job. Fight Club is an outlet for anyone with problems in their life. When their problems are put aside, the men of Fight Club will have more time to focus and make their mark on the world. When they're ready to do so, Tyler creates Project Mayhem. Tyler boosts the men's motivation by making them wait outside his house on Paper Street for three days. The narrator states, “Tyler didn't care whether other people got hurt or not. The goal was to teach each man involved in the project that he had the power to control history” (p.122). Tyler motivates men by focusing on their desire to control their own story. He uses this motivation to transform them into his space monkey form, and these men transform into Tyler's force to make his mark in theworld. Tyler tells the men, “You are not a beautiful, unique snowflake. You are the same decaying organic matter as everyone else, and we are all part of the same compost pile” (p. 134). Using the power of men's motivation for individuality in Project Mayhem, Tyler allows each individual to make their identity known. The men of Project Mayhem are not even recognized by a name. The narrator states: “Only in death will we have our names since only in death will we no longer be part of the effort. In death we become heroes (p. 178).” This motivates the men to give their all in Project Mayhem's efforts. In death they will be honored as heroes and their lifelong goal of gaining an identity will be complete. Tyler states, when threatening the commissioner who wants to shut down Fight Club: “The people you're trying to trample on, we're all the ones you depend on. We are the people who do the laundry, cook the food, and serve dinner. Let's make your bed. We protect you while you sleep. We drive ambulances. We direct your call. We are cooks and taxi drivers and we know everything about you. We process your insurance claims and credit card charges. We control every part of your life” (p. 166). The most important men in society find their motivation in Tyler's projects, and these men continue to work for Tyler, knowing they can complete their quest for identity. Through Tyler's work with these men in Project Mayhem, men who perform the jobs necessary for the world's survival, Palahniuk does an exceptional job of portraying how the desire for meaning provides self-motivation in world civilization. life is not easy and the author shows this in the narrator's struggles, flaws, and eventual personal transformation. His insomnia makes his path even more difficult to follow. The narrator states, “This is what happens with insomnia. Everything is so far away, a copy of a copy of a copy. Insomnia, distance from everything, you can't touch anything and nothing can touch you” (p. 21). His insomnia makes him unable to distinguish dreams from reality, and this makes Tyler's character very influential in his life. As the novel progresses, the narrator relies more on what Tyler would do. He's struggled to get to this point and questions morally whether he's doing the right thing. This is made clear at the end of the novel. The narrator states: “The world is going crazy. My boss died. My house is no longer there. My job is gone. And I am responsible for all this” (p. 193). The narrator continues his development in Tyler, and in a discussion with Marla, they say, "'Why should I believe any of this?' It happens so fast. I say, because I think I like you. “Not love «This is a pretty cheesy moment, I say. Don't push it." (p. 197)At this time, the narrator has regained emotion. He is no longer controlled by Tyler. The narrator notes that he can be an individual and still make a difference. This is how he ends up on top of the building Parker Morris. His development into selfhood has been completely emotional and he realizes how many lives he has destroyed. Towards the end of the book he states: “This is like a moment of total epiphany for me. I'm not killing myself, I'm screaming . I'm killing Tyler. I'm Joe's hard drive. I remember everything” (p. 204). He kills himself to get rid of the demons in his life that Tyler had created happiness, but it will lead to something better. In the last chapter the narrator states: "This was better than real life. And your perfect moment won't last forever. Everything in heaven is white on white. Fakers. All in heaven is silent, shoes with the sole of.
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