Fight Club

The id is a component of personality present from birth and makes sure that all physical needs are satisfied. The ego is responsible for dealing with reality. The superego is ones moral judgement of right and wrong. These three components are represented through a character whose name is not implied but hinted is Jack, Tyler Durden, and the society in which Jack lives in. Although Tyler Durden and Jack are one person their personalities portray them as two separate people.

 The id is represented by the character Tyler Durden, the aggressive alter ego of Jack, who helps him satisfy his sexual needs . In the beginning, we see Jack in his bland, behind the desk, suit and tie type of life. In a scene where he's in the bathroom with Ikea magazines on the floor, his first obsession is presented. His need for furniture from Ikea. He is conformed to the ideas of society. What the id does, or Tyler Durden, is help him escape that idea of conformity starting by blowing up his apartment filled with Ikea furniture that Jack thinks is his reason to live. Tyler Durden, with the help of Jack, create Fight Club in order to help other men escape their daily boring lives by beating each other to a pulp.

The ego is represented by Jack, or our Narrator. When things get too out of control or are blown out of proportion because of the id, the ego is there to reason with it and try to stop it before the damage is done. For example, in a scene where Tyler Durden is driving recklessly with Jack and other members of Fight Club, aiming to crash and looking for the thrill, the ego steps in. Jack attempts to grab the wheel and reason with Tyler all while answering his absurd questions about life.

The superego is represented by  the society in which Tyler Durden and Jack live in as one. The superego looks to what is right and wrong. In this case, their society is the one who is right and they are looked at as the wrong ones. They live in a world where the media internalizes itself into ones mind, for example Jacks need for Ikea furniture, and where you are meant to work and live your life like everyone else. Tyler Durden and Jack defy the expectations of society by their means of destruction, aggressiveness, and need for a thrill. 

 The message of this film is that one should live his or her life not to how society has planned it or how it is projected by the media but how they wish to. With all the violence incorporated in the film every few scenes, this message is overshadowed. The audience is then left with the thought of fighting, anger, and thrill rather than asking themselves if they are conformed to societies ideas or living how they truly want to. Like Roger Ebert states in his review of this film, "...a lot more people will leave this movie and get in fights than will leave it discussing Tyler Durden's moral philosophy." The meaning of the movie Fight Club is deeper than just violence and fighting but the way it is portrayed takes away the true message.