Sunday, November 18, 2012

Symbolism of soap in David Fincher's film Fight Club

By Jaredh Avrill


If you watch the movie you may fail to observe the Fight Club soap references. However, this common household item makes many appearances throughout the movie. If you take a closer look you might find many hidden meanings.

Tyler Durden and the narrator (played by Edward Norton) of the film steal fat from liposuction clinic for the purpose of soapmaking. During the process, Tyler pours a very caustic solution of lye on the narrator's hand. Tyler says that the pain is crucial as it symbolize fear. When you know how to deal with pain you can get over it, and death (and fearing it) is meaningless.

The meaning of Fight Club soap slowly develops during the movie. This common ordinary cleaning agent is often overlooked and taken as obvious. Tyler Durden is the narrator's alter ego and he is desperately trying to free the film narrator from all of his fobias and hang-ups.

When Tyler talks of people's materialism he reminds the film narrator about its evil influence. Items that you own can come to own you. This may be why Tyler loves make soap. It is a simple process that creates a useful product. Also, when one is working, the mind does not have to think about problems.

In Fight Club movie, fighting is used as a tool for self understanding. Fighting is the ultimate primeval challenge between one man and another. There is no materialism, no classes, just fighting. One person wins and the other loses and when it is over they often feel a sense of great release.

If you look deeply into the symbolism of Fight Club soap, you may see something simple. However, simple things are often far more important than most people realize. When you appreciate the little things in life, the big things become not important while the little ones take on more importance. This devaluation of major concerns can help one finally understand a great deal of being truly free .




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