The Setting: North Carthage, Missouri, 2012

If you’ve ever been to a bustling metropolis like New York City, you’ll understand just how different the Midwest is, and Missouri perfectly embodies that Midwestern essence. When Nick and Amy relocate to Nick’s fictional hometown of North Carthage, their marriage takes a drastic turn. Nick explains his expectations:

“I assumed I could uproot my New York wife, along with all her New York interests and pride, and transplant her from the exhilarating chaos of Manhattan to a charming little town on the Missouri River, thinking everything would be fine.” (1.17)

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But it isn’t fine. In fact, North Carthage is far from fine—it is, in Nick’s own words, “a quaint little 1950s town that bloated itself into a basic midsized suburb and dubbed it progress” (1.35). However, progress is the last thing that this place has seen in recent times.

The town has been hit hard by the recession. Nick and Amy reside in a mostly empty development littered with “gaping, dark houses” (3.68). The closure of the local mall has dealt a severe blow to the town’s economy, resulting in rampant crime and homelessness. The situation has become so dire that people resort to visiting the local blood donation clinic to earn some extra cash. As Nick tells Gilpin, “Guys are camped out everywhere. This whole town is overrun with pissed-off, unemployed people” (11.4). This bleak atmosphere adds an eerie and somber backdrop to the dark events that unfold in this novel.

Now, you might wonder why we should care about this sad and desolate place. The answer lies in the fact that North Carthage serves as a symbolic reflection of Nick and Amy’s deteriorating marriage.

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While their lives were flourishing in New York, the North Carthage chapter of their relationship is marred by a recession of its own. Their communication breaks down, intimacy becomes a rarity, and they find themselves constantly at odds with each other. Nick succumbs to temptation and has an affair, while Amy sinks into depression. Therefore, setting the story in a city afflicted by economic devastation during a time of financial hardship creates a fitting backdrop for a tale about a crumbling relationship.

Since North Carthage is not exactly the ideal destination for your next vacation, the significance lies in the symbolic portrayal of the state of Nick and Amy’s marriage. This small town serves as a tangible representation of the emotional turmoil and disconnection that engulfs their relationship. Prepare to embark on a journey through the shadows of North Carthage as you delve into the gripping narrative of Gone Girl.

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