We've all been there. A friend or family lies, disrespects, or otherwise betrays us through their words or actions, and our minds become a mess of hurt and anger. If we dwell on it long enough, one thought eventually grows louder than the others: I'm gonna make them pay. The thing about revenge, though, is that the normal course of action is to fantasize the act—not actually do it. The difference between Amy in Gone Girl and normal people is that she actually does the stuff she fantasizes about. And that's not cool. In fact, as Nick learns, it's downright scary.
Questions About Revenge
- What is the root of Amy's desire for revenge? Who are the primary targets of her wrath?
- Plotting to frame your husband for murder is taking revenge pretty seriously. What's Amy's rationale for doing this? Why won't she just settle for divorcing Nick and leaving it at that?
- How does Nick attempt to get revenge on Amy throughout the second half of the book?
- What statement does the book as a whole make about the usefulness and justification for revenge? What events from the story sum it all up?