Betsy Alvarado (FGCU): Fight Club

Schizophrenia

Narrator: Tyler, what the f*** is going on here?
Tyler Durden: I ask you for one thing, one simple thing.
Narrator: Why do people think that I’m you? Answer me!
Tyler Durden: Sit.
Narrator: Now answer me, why do people think that I’m you.
Tyler Durden: I think you know.
Narrator: No, I don’t.
Tyler Durden: Yes, you do. Why would anyone possibly confuse you with me?
Narrator: Uh… I… I don’t know.
[Random flashbacks]
Tyler Durden: You got it.
Narrator: No.
Tyler Durden: Say it.
Narrator: Because…
Tyler Durden: Say it.
Narrator: Because we’re the same person.
Tyler Durden: That’s right

This scene is from Fight Club. The main characters are two different actors that become “acquaintances” and start a Fight Club and get into other trouble. Although the story line is way more descriptive, at one point in the movie, a big turn of events proceeds. The narrator and other main actor, Tyler, are the same person. The narrator is a schizophrenic man who created an image of someone else he dreamed of being. Although kind of crazy, there are many people who suffer from this serious mental disorder. Their thought processes and social skills are different than the norm.

Schizophrenia can be defined as a chronic, severe, and disabling brain disease. Only one percent of the population develops schizophrenia during their lifetime and more than 2 million Americans suffer from the illness each year.

Tyler Durden: All the ways you wish you could be, that’s me. I look like you wanna look, I f*** like you wanna f***, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not.

People with schizophrenia have different perceptions of reality then the people around them. A schizophrenic’s world is distorted by hallucinations and delusions who may feel frightened, anxious, and confused.

Narrator: Look, nobody takes this more seriously than me. That condo was my life, okay? I loved every stick of furniture in that place. That was not just a bunch of stuff that got destroyed, it was ME!
[voice-over]
Narrator: I’d like to thank the Academy…

Because a person with this disorder can have different perceptions of reality, they may behave differently at various times. At this scene in the movie, the narrator’s apartment caught fire and everything was ruined. At this time, viewers don’t know it, but the narrator blew up his own things when he was in a schizophrenic state as Tyler.

Narrator: [on phone with Marla] Marla, did we ever have sex?
Marla Singer: What? Do you mean did I think we were just having sex or making love?
Narrator: Marla, just answer the question. Did we ever have sex?
Marla Singer: Ok. You f*** me, then snub me. You love me, you hate me. You show me a sensitive side, then you turn into a total asshole. Is this a pretty accurate description of our relationship, Tyler?
Narrator: Wait. What did you just call me?
Marla Singer: Tyler. Tyler Durden. Tyler Durden, you crazy f***!

Psychosis, a phase in this disorder of mental impairment marked by hallucinations that are clearly false, but strong personal beliefs make it difficult for the individual to separate real from unreal experiences. The narrator didn’t recall having sex with this woman and at the same time he becomes aware that his name is Tyler Durden.

Narrator: I wasn’t really dying. I wasn’t host to cancer or parasites. I was the warm little center that the life of this world crowded around

Less obvious symptoms, such as social isolation or withdrawal, or unusual speech, thinking, or behavior, may precede, be seen along with, or follow the psychotic symptoms. Instead of normal interaction with other human beings, the narrator engages in support groups for various diseases (cancer, sickle cell, etc.) to cope with his emotions and chronic insomnia.

Even though, “Fight Club” is a movie and movies are usually over exaggerated, it provides substantial information about Schizophrenia and the problems people with the disorder face.  Although Schizophrenia only affects a small percentage of the population, the severity of the disease and symptoms has a direct role in social inequality. Having a mental disability lowers your social status. Since this disease is not normal and can affect the social interaction and communication between others, it may be difficult to “fit in” with society normally.

This entry was posted on 12. April 2009 at 20:09 and is filed under Introduction to Sociology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.