political thinking pol 161

Political ThinkingPolitical ThinkingPOL 161POL 161

Erik RankinErik Rankin

FC- 30-64FC- 30-64

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64

Chapter VChapter VThe narrators talks about something that The narrators talks about something that

was vibrating in his suitcasewas vibrating in his suitcaseNumerous interactions with the task force Numerous interactions with the task force

guy that discusses what it could beguy that discusses what it could beHe returns home to see that his yuppie He returns home to see that his yuppie

high rise condo has been destroyedhigh rise condo has been destroyedHe talks about all the possessions he lostHe talks about all the possessions he lost

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64Over and over the narrator talks about his Over and over the narrator talks about his

various pieces of furniture and name brand various pieces of furniture and name brand belongingsbelongings

You get the sense that he is attached to the You get the sense that he is attached to the consumer nature of each itemconsumer nature of each item

He refers to it as the IKEA nesting instinctHe refers to it as the IKEA nesting instinct ““And I wasn’t the only slave to my nesting And I wasn’t the only slave to my nesting

instinct. The people I know who used to sit in instinct. The people I know who used to sit in the bathroom with pornography, now they sit in the bathroom with pornography, now they sit in the bathroom with their IKEA furniture the bathroom with their IKEA furniture catalogue”catalogue”

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64 ““Oh not my refrigerator. I’d collected shelves full of Oh not my refrigerator. I’d collected shelves full of

different mustards, some stone-ground, some English different mustards, some stone-ground, some English pub style. There were fourteen different flavors of fat pub style. There were fourteen different flavors of fat free salad dressing, and seven kinds of capers”free salad dressing, and seven kinds of capers”

““I know, I know, a house full of condiments and no real I know, I know, a house full of condiments and no real food.”food.”

This speaks volumes for the narrators character, lots This speaks volumes for the narrators character, lots of stuff but no substanceof stuff but no substance

He calls Tyler and moves in, after they get drunk at a He calls Tyler and moves in, after they get drunk at a barbar

On one condition “I want you to hit me as hard as you On one condition “I want you to hit me as hard as you can”can”

Fight Club pg. 34-85Fight Club pg. 34-85Chapter VIChapter VI

Narrator goes to work with his freshly pummeled Narrator goes to work with his freshly pummeled faceface

We are introduced to the rules of Fight Club but we We are introduced to the rules of Fight Club but we still don’t know what Fight Club isstill don’t know what Fight Club is

11stst Rule – You do not talk about Fight Club Rule – You do not talk about Fight Club22ndnd Rule – You do not talk about Fight Club Rule – You do not talk about Fight Club33rdrd Rule- When someone says stop, or goes limp, Rule- When someone says stop, or goes limp,

even if he is just faking it the fight is overeven if he is just faking it the fight is overOther rules- 2 guys to a fight, one fight at a time, no Other rules- 2 guys to a fight, one fight at a time, no

shirts or shoes, fight goes as long as it has toshirts or shoes, fight goes as long as it has to


Narrator’s true job title is revealed- recall Narrator’s true job title is revealed- recall campaign coordinatorcampaign coordinator

““After a night in fight club, everything in the real After a night in fight club, everything in the real world gets the volume turned down. Nothing world gets the volume turned down. Nothing can piss you off. Your word is law, and if other can piss you off. Your word is law, and if other people break that law or question you, even people break that law or question you, even that doesn’t piss you off”that doesn’t piss you off”

What is the obsession with dying pure and What is the obsession with dying pure and clean (no scars)?clean (no scars)?

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64 ““Maybe self-improvement isn’t the answer. Maybe self-improvement isn’t the answer.

Maybe self-destruction is the answer.”Maybe self-destruction is the answer.”Does this seem like a change in ideology?Does this seem like a change in ideology?Fight Club began as Tyler and the Narrator Fight Club began as Tyler and the Narrator

and has quickly grown to a large number of and has quickly grown to a large number of menmen

““What you see at Fight Club is a generation What you see at Fight Club is a generation of men raised by women”of men raised by women”

Description of what a man is on p.42Description of what a man is on p.42 Is this the physical ideal of man?Is this the physical ideal of man?


Narrator after a particularly brutal fight has to Narrator after a particularly brutal fight has to go to the hospitalgo to the hospital

““Sometimes, Tyler speaks for me”Sometimes, Tyler speaks for me”Page 43 we see the theme of self destruction Page 43 we see the theme of self destruction

appearing againappearing againWhy is self destruction difficult to accept in a Why is self destruction difficult to accept in a

liberal democracy? (or a capitalist society)liberal democracy? (or a capitalist society)Fighting becomes an outlet for both the narrator Fighting becomes an outlet for both the narrator

and Tyler and Tyler

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64Chapter VIIChapter VII

Tyler meets MarlaTyler meets MarlaDefine their relationship? How does the narrator Define their relationship? How does the narrator

feel about this?feel about this?Description of the house on Paper St.Description of the house on Paper St.Marla calls the narrator and she attempts suicideMarla calls the narrator and she attempts suicideThe narrator ignores her and Tyler goes to rescue The narrator ignores her and Tyler goes to rescue

her insteadher instead I am Joe’s…….Who is Joe (or Jack)I am Joe’s…….Who is Joe (or Jack)Narrator blames himself for Marla and Tyler’s Narrator blames himself for Marla and Tyler’s

relationshiprelationship


Tyler is not in love with Marla, he is simply Tyler is not in love with Marla, he is simply using her.using her.

Why is Tyler incapable of love?Why is Tyler incapable of love?Tyler asks if this is a problem, the narrator Tyler asks if this is a problem, the narrator

clearly bothered says no.clearly bothered says no.


Chapter VIIIChapter VIIIHaikuHaiku

Worker bees can leaveWorker bees can leaveEven drones can fly awayEven drones can fly awayThe queen is their slaveThe queen is their slave

WHOA! WHOA! Some one please interpret this logicSome one please interpret this logic


Narrators boss sends him home because he is Narrators boss sends him home because he is covered in dry bloodcovered in dry blood

He continues to be bothered by Marla and He continues to be bothered by Marla and Tyler’s sexual relationshipTyler’s sexual relationship

Tyler and Marla are never together when they Tyler and Marla are never together when they are in the houseare in the house

Tyler goes on to discuss the making of soapTyler goes on to discuss the making of soapMarla and the narrator interact and the narrator Marla and the narrator interact and the narrator

still has a passionate dislike for her still has a passionate dislike for her What is the glass slipper of our generation?What is the glass slipper of our generation?

Fight Club pg. 30-64Fight Club pg. 30-64Tyler talks bout how the narrator can kill his Tyler talks bout how the narrator can kill his

boss to cheer him upboss to cheer him upThe narrator however says that he actually likes The narrator however says that he actually likes

his boss and that he is enlightened nowhis boss and that he is enlightened now ““Sticking feathers up your butt, does not make Sticking feathers up your butt, does not make

you a chicken”you a chicken”They talk about hitting bottom, “at least Marla is They talk about hitting bottom, “at least Marla is

trying”trying” ““It’s only after you have lost everything, that It’s only after you have lost everything, that

your free to do anything.”your free to do anything.”What does this sound like?What does this sound like?


Tyler warns the narrator to never talk Tyler warns the narrator to never talk about him to Marlaabout him to Marla

What happens if he does?What happens if he does?Tyler again goes on the rampage of all the Tyler again goes on the rampage of all the

damage you can do with soapdamage you can do with soap

political thinking pol 161

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