By: Kiranveer Kang
Gone Girl authored by Gillian Flynn is a 2014 American psychological thriller/mystery book and film. The novel is based around a writer named Nick Dunne and his charismatic wife Amy who display a blissful marriage. Until Amy goes missing on their fifth wedding anniversary and Nick becomes the main suspect in her disappearance. However, as the series of events unfolds readers discover the true identities of Nick and Amy.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Amy Dunne shows many signs of mental disorder. Although Amy’s mental illness is never explicitly stated in the novel, Dr. Paul Puri, a psychiatrist who specializes in personality disorders, hypothetically diagnoses Amy Dunne for antisocial personality disorder using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders diagnosis method. Antisocial personality disorder sometimes referred to as sociopathy, is a mental disorder in which the individual consistently disregards the “right” and “wrong” moral actions of society as well as the feelings of others. They tend to manipulate, antagonize, and treat others poorly while showing no guilt or remorse for their behaviour. Amy portrayed signs of antisocial personality disorder throughout the entire story. A specific example is when Amy physically tortured as well as falsely accused her ex-boyfriend of being a rapist in the eyes of the public and court because he cheated on her.
Amy Dunne also demonstrated definite aspects of borderline personality disorder throughout Gone Girl. A borderline personality disorder is a mental health disorder that impacts the way an individual thinks and feels about themselves and others, which results in problems functioning in everyday life. This mental disorder includes a pattern of unstable relationships, self-image issues, difficulty managing emotions, and behaviour, etc. The children’s book “Amazing Amy” written by Amy’s parents characterize Amy as a perfect daughter, which shaped her to be a perfectionist in all aspects of her life. On one side, Amy was the same individual in the “Amazing Amy” book series who was glamorous and always made the right decisions. While on the other hand, Amy suffered from several undiagnosed mental disorders that heavily affected her well-being and relationships.
It is possible to have multiple mental disorders and Gone Girl’s main character, Amy Dunne, is a prime example of this case. I highly recommend reading this novel if you are interested in evaluating hidden psychological evidence of mental disorders or if you generally enjoy reading psychological mystery novels. In conclusion, Gone Girl beautifully written by Gillian Flynn is an extraordinary novel focused on Amy Dunne and the outcomes of her multiple undiagnosed mental disorders.
References
“Antisocial Personality Disorder.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, December 10, 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353928.
“Borderline Personality Disorder.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, July 17, 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20370237.
Duca, Lauren. “A Psychiatrist Weighs in on 'Gone Girl',” October 3, 2014. https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/amy-gone-girl-psychiatrist_n_5922842?ri18n=true
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