Guns, Germs and Steel
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The Subliminal Tylers
Before the Narrator actually “meets” Tyler, he sees him in brief, one-frame flashes, representing Tylers development in his mind. Below is a list of these appearances.
– Tyler is standing in front of the copier at the Narrators company, as the Narrator says, “Everything is a copy of a copy of a copy.”
– When the Narrator goes to the doctor for his insomnia, Tyler appears as the doctor tells him to go to the testicular cancer support group. As the doctor says, “Thats pain,” Tyler is standing just over his shoulder, laughing.
– At the support group, when the leader says “really open ourselves up,” Tyler is smirking and leaning against him with his arm around him.
– After the Narrator confronts Marla and is watching her walk away, Tyler appears in his line of vision, smoking.
– In the Pressman Hotel welcome video, Tyler is the waiter on the far right. (Thanks to Caite!) This appearance isnt actually subliminal. The Narrator, as Tyler, really did work at the Pressman Hotel, so he would have appeared in the video.
– Tyler is riding down an escalator as the Narrator is riding up in an airport.
Nick writes, “In the beginning there are quick flashes of Tyler in the back ground. I counted 3 of them in different times. Later in the movie they explained the projectionist job that Tyler had and how he put pornographic clips in family movies. Do you think those two things have anything in common?”
I hadnt really thought about this before, but its a good point. The characters are aware that they are in the movie (Tylers references to “flashback humor,” etc.), and Tyler DID splice a porn clip in at the end, so its very likely that he put himself in as well.
Kevin asks, “what are your thoughts on why the bullet killed Tyler but not the Narrator? My own theory is that Tyler was destroyed because the Narrator hit bottom when he was so unafraid of death that he was able to put a gun in his mouth and pull the trigger. The Narrator no longer needed Tyler because he had hit bottom, and he had become Tyler.”
Cramer replies, “I disagree on this point. Tylers presence isnt completely gone. While the main internal conflict of the Narrator may have been how to mesh Tylers and his own personalities together into a single individual, I believe that the reoccuring thesis of “Its only after youve lost everything that youre free to do anything,” can explain that Tyler (the rebel, the nonconformist) is not “dead.” In the last few seconds of the film, Tylers contribution of the porno frame to the reel proves that he may still exist. And perhaps this “diluted Tyler” will make his presence known as the Narrator has ordinary self doubts in the rest of his life. “Jack” hasnt lost everything quite yet, he ends with the idea that he finally has love and gets his mind spoken with the success of Mayhem. Tyler couldnt have disappeared yet because of this. The Narrator cannot experience constant successes and Tylers “self doubt will creep back in.
“The ending of the book however does not give the Narrator such a “happy,” semi romantic ending with Mayhem proceeding and holding the hand of Marla. The reader doesnt get to see a building fall and its stated early that the he loves Tyler, Tyler loves Marla, and Marla loves him and that “love” means “to own.” We find the Narrator possibly in a mental hospital hearing voices from his past (people visiting him) and trying to speak his mind to what he believes is God that life isnt as pretty as weve all been told as children. So the “Body” can no longer function as either the Narrator or Tyler after having once again failing at love and destruction. Neither, I believe, is dead.”
Togemon here. I agree that Tyler isnt completely dead- that he lives on in the Narrator at leastЖ because of the splicing done to the movie. Michael adds, “I dunno if its any significance, but at the end when the Narrator puts the gun in his mouth his last words before he pulls the trigger is “My eyes are open”. I think this could mean two things, 1. There was a hint earlier that Tyler is really only “alive” when the Narrator sleeps. Since the Narrator is awake, does that means that Tyler must die. Likewise, if Tyler did it when the Narrator was asleep, would he die? 2. Hes realized that he is responsible for Project Mayhem and accepted that he is Tyler.” Aaron writes, “One more question I think what I thought about with great consideration what does Tyler Durden or the Narrator look like, Edward Norton or Brad Pitt. It doesnt show you clearly you just assume that he looks like Edward Norton because Tyler dies but there are different scenes that make me think he really looks like Brad Pitt.”
This is an interesting point I hadnt thought of. As I replied to Aaron, I always assumed that he looked like Norton, but WANTED to look like Pitt… like in the one scene where the Narrator and Marla are walking past a movie theater, and the marquee says “Seven Years In Tibet.” So obviously Brad Pitt “exists” in the world of the movie. I just thought that the Narrator would want to look like him. (Like Tyler says, “I look like you want to
look.”) Also, in the Narrators flashbacks, he sees himself performing Tylers actions, which suggests that he looks like Norton. Anyone else have thoughts? Reaper of War asks, “Do you have any idea what Tylers car may signify? In the beginning
we see him jump into a beautiful convertable yet when him and Jack begin to live together the question of “Wheres your car?” comes up and is answered with “What car?”. So, what does this mean? Does it mean Tyler WAS like Jack for a while, then finally gave up