Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Gone Girl, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Secrets and Lies
Marriage
Misogyny
Writing, Storytelling, and Narrative
Summary
Analysis
“I am such an idiot,” Amy writes. She feels “ridiculous, frivolous, [and] spoiled” in Missouri, crushed by the gravity of Maureen’s impending death. One day, she accompanies Maureen and some of her friends to a plasma donation center, where they are planning to give plasma in exchange for money. Maureen has brought Amy along to be her “proxy,” and adds that it’s good for a woman to have a little cash of her own. Amy holds her tongue, wishing she could tell Maureen she used to have cash—before she gave it all to Nick. Amy is reluctant to give blood, and faints shortly after her session. Maureen brings her home and tucks her into bed, and they both try to call Nick, but he doesn’t answer.
Amy’s fear of blood points to a delicate and squeamish nature. The trip to the plasma donation center also shows just how dire things are for the women Amy has met in Missouri—she is not in New York anymore, and is surrounded by people who have been affected by the financial crisis even worse than she herself has.
Themes
That night, Nick slips into bed with Amy past eleven. He’s heard some of what happened from Maureen, but claims he couldn’t pick up his phone because it was “out of juice.” Amy calls out the paradox—and then waits for Nick to come up with a lie. Amy “swallow[s] her disappointment” and hardly even listens as Nick lies to her.
Nick wasn’t there for Amy when she needed him—and the fact that he’s lying about why is clear as day. Amy has no patience for Nick’s stories, and tunes him out as he tells her what she wants to hear.
Themes
