Manipulating Perceptions: The Strategic Use of Gender Stereotypes in David Fincher's Gone Girl for Narrative Misdirection

Abstract

This  paper   explores   how  David   Fincher’s   Gone   Girl   strategically   employs gender stereotypes  to  create  deliberate   narrative   misdirection  in  the  movie's first  half.  The  film initially presents Nick Dunne as an emotionally detached and potentially abusive husband, while Amy Dunne is portrayed   as  a  vulnerable,  victimized  wife.  These  characterizations  align  with  societal   gender stereotypes, reinforcing expectations of male dominance and female weakness. However, the narrative unfolds and these stereotypes  are  subverted,  revealing  the female character as the true  manipulator who uses her perceived victimhood to control and frame the male lead. This study analyzes the film’s mise-en-scène,   character dialogues,   and   monologues,   highlighting   how  gender   stereotypes   are manipulated  to deceive both characters within the  film and  the audience  leading up to the turn  of events. By adhering  to and then challenging  these stereotypes, the film critiques societal  assumptions about gender roles, demonstrating  the destructive power of these stereotypes when used to manipulate perception. Ultimately,  the  research  underscores  how Gone  Girl  uses  gender  norms  not  just  as  a narrative  tool, but as a means to critique the absurdity and dangers of rigid gender expectations.