Amy's Feminist Manifesto in The Movie 'Gone Girl'

Introduction

Marriage is a commitment between two people. It is about trust and respect. When people think about marriage, they often tend to romanticize it. However, marriage can sometimes be nothing but deception and misery. Amy Elliot Dunne, an intelligent and beautiful woman with an intriguing personality, perfectly portrays a female character that captivates the audience. On her fifth wedding anniversary, Amy mysteriously goes missing, leaving a scavenger hunt for her husband and the police to solve. With each clue they find, suspicion increasingly falls on her husband, Nick, as the potential murderer. The movie "Gone Girl" unveils how Amy crafts a feminist manifesto, creating a female role more complex than any other seen in movies.

Amy's Feminist Manifesto in the Movie "Gone Girl"

Amy's Disappearance and Control

The transition from Amy’s disappearance to the revelation of her plans illustrates her control over Nick and public opinion. She devises an intricate plan and finds ways to execute it flawlessly. Amy disciplines herself to commit a fake crime. “You need to package yourself so that people will truly mourn your loss. And America loves a pregnant woman” (Milchan). She befriends her pregnant neighbor, steals her urine to fake a pregnancy, creates financial problems, and uses the money to buy a cheap getaway car from Craigslist. Amy slowly manipulates her neighbor by filling her with lies about Nick, making her believe he is a violent and bad husband. She constructs a fake diary to mislead the cops, creating a mask that provides her with more options for her plans. She wanted the cops to find the diary to sabotage Nick's persona, framing him as a cold-hearted human being. A reporter misrepresents his story, further tarnishing Nick's image and altering public opinion against him. At this point, Nick’s reputation is severely damaged, and Amy’s plan is starting to unfold.

Amy's Transformation and Independence

While on the move, Amy executes her plan, keeping a watchful eye on Nick. Initially faking her death, she alters her appearance to avoid recognition in public. She changes her hair color, cuts it short, dyes her eyebrows, and cleans up in a public restroom at a gas station. On her way to a store, she observes a woman driving alone, symbolizing her own confidence and independence. Later, she sees a couple driving, reminiscent of her past with Nick. Amy enters a grocery store to buy food and fake glasses, masking her appearance further. She checks into a motel but finds the room quality unsatisfactory. That night, while washing up, she discovers a hammer and suddenly hits her face with it, demonstrating her willingness to go to extreme lengths to complete her plan. Amy befriends her neighbors, who soon recognize her from TV as the missing person. They rob her, leaving her financially broke and prompting a new plan. As Amy checks her calendar, the audience sees her moving her death date further, indicating her reluctance to end her life. She feels empowered and independent, showing she can achieve her goals independently.

The "Cool Girl" Monologue

Amy’s “cool girl” scene is one of the most feminist and relatable moments for feminists. In her monologue, she states, “You are not dating a woman; you are dating a woman who has watched too many movies written by socially awkward men who’d like to believe this kind of women exist and might kiss them” (Milchan). This scene suggests that she was merely playing the cool girl to meet Nick’s expectations. Society often expects men to be the deceitful ones, but Amy deceives Nick throughout. She mentions, “maybe he’s a vegetarian, so Cool Girls love seitan and are great with dogs” (Milchan). Amy emphasizes that many women allow men to hold power by conforming to their standards, seeking acknowledgment and acceptance from those they admire. While Amy pretended to be a cool girl, Nick also pretended to be a cool guy. However, Amy held all the power, showing she desired control in the relationship and believed in her independence.

Amy's Portrayal as a "Hero"

Furthermore, her marriage led her to paint herself as a “hero” in the movie. In her diary, Amy depicted herself as an innocent woman, crafting an image of heroism. In reality, she played the victim to assume a dramatic role. Nick’s affair with a young woman fueled her motives. With Nick unemployed and cheating after Amy financially supported him, she was furious and devastated, amplifying her hatred for Nick. Marrying a jobless man and supporting him, only to have her efforts wasted, broke her immensely. Her actions aimed to reveal Nick’s betrayal to the world, justifying her measures to put him on the death penalty.

Amy's Manipulative Nature

Amy’s childhood and marriage further contributed to her manipulative and psychopathic behavior. She controlled her transition between her old and new life until she was robbed, destabilizing her financially and causing her plan to crumble. She quickly devised a new plan, involving her ex, Desi. Amy seduced and murdered him, framing him as she had Nick. She returned to Nick for financial stability, using him to regain her footing. Amy convinced the police that Desi kidnapped her and she managed to escape, changing public opinion from Nick being a murderer to Desi being a kidnapper. Already framing Desi, the public and police believed her, as she appeared to be a victim who escaped. Nick was on the brink of the death penalty until Amy returned to “save” him.

Conclusion

Initially, viewers focus on Nick, suspicious of his involvement in Amy's disappearance. As clues emerge, suspicion intensifies against him. However, in the second half, attention shifts to Amy’s wrongdoings, prompting viewers to desire her punishment. As the movie progresses, Nick's infidelity is revealed, redirecting focus to his actions. Viewers understand Amy’s motivations but recognize she went too far. Nick's betrayal portrays him as a despicable character, evoking empathy for Amy.

In conclusion, Amy is a manipulative and psychopathic woman who exhibits strong independent feminism compared to most women. She struggles with reality and fears death, moving her death date further in her mind but knowing she cannot face it. Amy has trouble confronting problems but finds imaginative solutions. When Nick meets Amy’s ex, Tommy, he reveals that Amy once framed him for rape, showcasing her manipulative and negative persona.

References

Milchan, A. (Producer). (2014). Gone Girl [Motion picture]. United States: 20th Century Fox.