Tyler Durden is an iconic character, portrayed by Brad Pitt, in the 1999 film, 'Fight Club'. Originally appearing in the novel of the same name, he is the split personality of The Narrator, created by insomnia-induced delirium and his frustration with his repetitive lifestyle. The character of Tyler can be interpreted as both the protagonist and the antagonist of the film. His other identity, (the narrator - portrayed by Edward Norton) is an ordinary, unnamed man living a repetitive lifestyle largely controlled by consumerism. Tyler exhibits the freeness, spontaneity, and independence the narrator longs for.
In the film, Tyler Durden only appears as an 'official' character part-way through the film, being introduced to the Narrator on a passenger plane. Before this, he can be seen momentarily flashing on the screen in a similar fashion to the explicit images he flashes in cinema films in his part-time projectionist job.
In preparation for the film, Brad Pitt and his co-star, Edward Norton, took classes in boxing, taekwondo, grappling, and soap-making. Pitt also willingly visited the dentist to have his front teeth chipped for the role, so his character had an imperfect appearance.
What makes people take to Tyler Durden so well?
Despite being rather animalistic and lacking any manners (conveyed by his behaviour such as flashing images of male genitalia on family films, desecrating hotel meals with bodily fluids and so on) Tyler is such a compelling character for many reasons, including his dashing good looks. One of the main factors I believe makes him so captivating is that he exhibits aspects so many people long for. For example, his lack of value for material possessions. The character is largely anti-consumerism and doesn't waste his money, time and effort on buying products and particular brands. This is an ideal many of us wish we could follow, however, subconsciously do not because of how valued brands and material possessions are in Western culture. The desire to spend less and not value materials is outweighed by the desire to fit in or surround ourselves with luxuries. The audience wants to be him, just like the Narrator wants to be him, and is evidently bewitched by him upon their first meeting. Tyler's own description perfectly sums up how people see him:
"All the ways you wish you could be, that's me. I look like you wanna look, I fuck like you wanna fuck, I am smart, capable, and most importantly, I am free in all the ways that you are not."
Another feature Tyler is admired for is his independence and freedom. While many people watching the film are victims of wage-slavery and consumerism, Tyler is depicted as a man with no responsibility, which many people would envy. This also makes him so contrasting to his other identity - the Narrator - which makes him a refreshing character for the audience to watch.
Moreover, Tyler Durden is such an in depth character, with such small intricacies including particular mannerisms and ideas. This makes the character more human (despite being absolutely insane) and therefore more relatable and likeable. An audience would find it difficult to like a character with no personality. On the other hand, the fact that he is so different to many people viewing the film makes him more enjoyable to watch because his behaviour is so intriguing. The huge contrast between the viewers and this character creates a more interesting film, as watching someone so similar to them would be boring.
An interpretation as to why Tyler is such a captivating character could also be that he displays leadership qualities - he runs a club and later an entire project with followers. This activates the submissive follower traits within the audience and instantly make them believe every word that comes out of his mouth, similar to in the film.
The character shows very gradual advancement throughout the film as well. This creates relatability because a character that stays the same throughout occurrences in a plot is unrealistic. Furthermore, it shows him putting his ideas into practice. When the character is introduced he has the same ideals he ends the film with, however, they become more extreme as he puts them into practice. This slowly makes the audience perhaps fear him, as they begin agreeing with his ideas until they are put into action and become far too extreme. A character able to change how the audience is feeling is successful, as it makes the film more memorable because they felt something when watching it.
Tyler Durden was rated Number 1 Greatest Movie Character of All Time by Empire magazine, which shows he was a hit with the public. Brad Pitt's portrayal is highly regarded and the character is considered iconic. He is constantly referred to in popular culture, as well as quoted, which proves how successful a character he is.
Here is a clip of Tyler Durden in David Fincher's 'Fight Club':
Thanks for reading,
-Wendy
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