Our society today is very different from that of years ago. Society was based on masculinity, being as strong as possible. Men were the more dominant gender while women were seen as weaker and less respectable. However, in the modern era masculinity is less important than it was in the past. People care less about being more masculine and instead care more about shopping, clothing and consumer products and try to have as many consumer products as possible. Fight Club follows the story of the Narrator and his friend Tyler Durden, as they try to regain control of their masculinity in this more feminine world. However, their journey will demonstrate that uncontrolled masculinity is dangerous and is just as bad, if not worse, than the consumerist society in which they live. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The story begins with the narrator on the top floors of a skyscraper with a gun in his mouth. The gun is held by his friend Tyler Durden. The narrator talks about how both he and Tyler know a lot of information about the same things. Then the book returns to the beginning of the journey. The narrator is part of a cancer support group and cries while being held by Bob, which is a great example of the theme of masculinity. The narrator can't sleep and has to go support groups he doesn't need, because that's the only thing that helps his insomnia. Bob is a former bodybuilder. Bob used steroids and developed testicular cancer as a result. He had to have his testicles surgically removed, and due to the hormonal imbalance, he ended up growing female breasts. Bob is a great representation of the emasculation and feminization that is fought against in Fight Club. This is due to the fact that Bob started out as very masculine but then ended up without testicles and breasts, Bob is the only character in the play who is literally emasculated. The narrator is able to find solace in these numerous support groups that he has joined under false pretenses. That is until a woman named Marla Singer begins frequenting these same groups, causing the Narrator's insomnia to return. The narrator works at a major automotive company as a recall coordinator, a job that requires nothing masculine. Then the Narrator meets Tyler. Tyler Durden is the Narrator's alter ego. He is a cooler, calmer, more masculine version of the Narrator. The narrator forms a very strong friendship in the story. When the Narrator's apartment explodes, Tyler lets him stay in his house. Tyler lives very differently from the Narrator. The narrator works in an office job, lives in a modern apartment building, and buys many consumer products. Tyler works as a projectionist who inserts porno stills into children's films and as a waiter at an expensive restaurant who urinates in soup. He also uses and sells the soap he produces himself. Tyler not only doesn't have an office job, but in the jobs he works he does his best to ruin the customer experience. The fact that he creates soap also shows how he does not purchase consumer products like the Narrator does. Tyler is also squatting in a dilapidated mansion, a stark contrast to the new manufactured apartment building the Narrator paid for. Tyler does his best to boycott and rebel against the emasculated, consumerist society he lives in. Tyler and the Narrator create Fight Club together out of a need to regain the masculinity that this new world has taken away from him. It is then explained that most people who enter Fight Club usually did not have a father in their life and were raisedfrom their mothers. The narrator and Tyler have a very strong camaraderie. They start Fight Club together, and Tyler lets the Narrator live with him and teaches the Narrator how to make soap. The only thing that threatens him is Marla. Marla is a threat to Tyler, to his male revolt, and to his friendship with the Narrator. Marla is the only main character in the book who is female. Marla tries to overdose on Xanax and is saved by Tyler. Tyler doesn't take her to the hospital and instead has sex with her to ensure she stays awake all night. The narrator at first doesn't like the way Tyler has sex with Marla as he believes she is taking up Tyler's time. The Narrator begins to care for Marla and since Marla is not part of Tyler's male dream, he tries to get rid of her and make the Narrator forget about her. Marla is also part of the Narrator's drive to beat Tyler. Marla also doesn't like killing like Tyler. She is fascinated by death but does not agree with the idea of ​​killing people. Another example of this masculinity can be seen in Tyler's dream. Tyler wants to create a new society, but in this new society he would rule the world. In the current world we live in now, the head of the country is chosen by the people. Both voters and candidates can be anyone and their masculinity is not important, even a woman could be president, someone who is not masculine. In America, where the book is set, there are many non-male people who vote, the requirement to vote is not to be a criminal, to be a citizen of the country and to be at least 18 years old. Being president is usually based on the most popular campaign or candidate, he may be intelligent, well spoken and experienced with the country's laws and systems. Being the president isn't just about how masculine you are. Tyler wants to rule the world and since he is the most powerful and masculine, he believes that he should be the ruler since the ruler should be someone strong. In his survival in the fittest world, he would be the most respected and strong, he believes he deserves to be the leader of his new world and the people living in it would agree with his ideals. Fight Club itself is a very masculine creation. It is open to men only. These men fight with each other because it's a lot of fun for them. Their jobs are boring and their lives boring, but Fight Club makes them feel truly alive. The pain and visceral struggles pose a great danger to Fight Club and is the reason people keep coming back. The narrator notes how even in his office he will see people incompetent at their jobs, dominating at Fight Club. Many of them have bruises and wounds, but Fight Club's only recognition is a knowing look. The fights are a celebration of their masculine roots and allow the fighters to use their aggressive tendencies and strength. The Narrator no longer needs his cancer support groups as Fight Club lets him sleep as if he never had insomnia. Marla even wonders why he doesn't show up to group meetings. In the repressed society they live in, they can finally release all their repressed emotions. Unlike today's society, Fight Club members aren't interested in looking good or improving themselves. Instead, they want to hurt others and be hurt by others. Fight Club becomes very popular thanks to this. The narrator decides to stay away from the path that society tries to give him. Instead of working, getting married and raising children he chooses to satisfy his desire for pain and violence. He doesn't need a woman to fulfill his life, he chooses to ignore his feminized society and fight for fun. The Narrator's scars and pain do not seem to affect him or cause discomfort, he seems to wear his bruises with.