Manipulation Quotes in Gone Girl

How we cite our quotes: Chapter.Paragraph

Quote #4

The mooney, girlish state her notes had left me in, it sickened me. It embarrassed me. Marrow-deep embarrassment, the kind that becomes a part of your DNA, that changes you. After all these years, Amy could still play me. She could write a few notes and get me back completely. (31.38)

Remember on the old Peanuts cartoon when Lucy would invite Charlie Brown to play football, only to jerk it from the ground when he's about to kick it? That's exactly what Amy does as she manipulates Nick's emotions during her disappearance. When she sees Nick give his Sharon Schieber interview, confess his drunken love for her on the Flip Camera, and record daily webcam messages for her on the Internet, she gets the validation of seeing how much control she has over him.

Quote #5

I hope you liked Diary Amy. She was meant to be likable. Meant for someone like you to like her. (32.20)

Whoa. Why is it so freaky when Amy does that fourth wall thing? It's like she's actually reading our minds about her diary alter ego, like she's messing with us just like she's messing with Nick and everyone else. Weird…

Quote #6

"Amy clearly isn't a puppet on a string. She's the puppet master." (31.50)

While Amy's gift of the Punch and Judy puppets carries a lot more symbolism than the obvious puppetry metaphor, the illustration still clearly depicts the way Amy manipulates those around her. For more on puppetry, check out the "Symbols" section. Also check out this classic music video and witness how Gone Girl totally changes its meaning.