A Psychoanalytic Study of Gillian Flynn’s Amy Elliott Dunne with reference to Lacan’s Three Stages of Identity Formation

Abstract

Gone Girl is a crime fiction by the American author Gillian Flynn which provides a psychological insight into the mind and motive of the central character, Amy Elliott Dunne. The novel starts with Nick, the husband coming under police scrutiny in the case of his wife Amy, who goes missing on the very day of their fifth wedding anniversary. However, as the case gradually unfolds, the scenario gets much more complex. The character of Amy is portrayed as intricately complex and multi-layered. A close reading and psychoanalysis of the character of Amy show that her actions and behaviour patterns are a reflection of her ingrained identity formation. This paper intends to study the psyche behind the actions and behavioural patterns of Amy Elliott Dunne, the protagonist in Flynn’s Gone Girl, with reference to Lacan’s three stages of identity formation.