Reality of Identity

As a continuation of last week's discussion of the importance of knowing what is a "true reality", this week has shed light on the importance of embracing and aligning oneself with in an individualized sense of reality. The combination of Hume and Locke's ideas presented in the readings bring forth the concept of an individual's personal identity. Most noteworthy was Hume's idea that, "The Soul therefore if immortal, existed before our birth; and if the former existence no ways concerned us, neither will the later." (229) Therefore, with the incorporation of David Fincher's Fight Club the connection of a real example and definition of true identity, and per Fight Club, and the struggle with said identity. As the movie shows, the image of a depressed and monochromatic life of "The Narrator", meeting the parallel yet drastic opposite of himself in Tyler Durden. Throughout the dramatic events of the film, as The Narrator is emerged into the colorful turmoil of Tyler Durden's life and chaotic ideology as a way to rid himself of his own sense of insomnia, depression and over all worthlessness. As the film had set up the image of the Narrator's worthless and depressing life at the hands of his insomnia, the same insomnia is revealed to show more of his lack of identity, motivation, and purpose in life rather than simple restlessness. When the film reveals that the Narrator had simply imagined the entire persona of Tyler Durden, show that the film is much more about the Narrator's sense of individuality and persona, rather than brawling. The incorporation of a crazed alter ego that parallels a simple minded depressed office worker, is vital in the discovery of the Narrator's own true identity. The essay from John Locke shows how exactly the one true individuality can exist and yet not exist in a co-habitual realm. That the "person" of Tyler Durden does not die or disappear but rather, as Locke states "at that instant, what it is, and nothing else, it is the same, and so must continue, as long as its existence is continued [...]." This acknowledges that the entire persona of Tyler Durden, and the same monochromatic, IKEA furnished life of the Narrator from the beginning of the movie, can thus live conjoined into the "real" identity and persona of The Narrator.