• Ms. Kirshana R
• Dr. Reshmi K

This paper discusses Amy Dunne of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn in the context of Dark Triad, narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Amy is being portrayed as a high-functioning person who transforms these characteristics into the instruments of fulfilling her objectives. Her actions lie in her traumatic childhood in the shadow of the idealised image of herself, which was formed by her parents, which is referred to as Amazing Amy. The experience makes her insistent on perfection and the need to be validated by the outside world. To satisfy these needs, she creates the image of a cool girl, and this image helps her to be a wise strategist and an apt manipulator. Nick Dunne is not such a passive victim and is also analysed. His lies and narcissism contribute to Amy being destructive and the relationship becomes even worse. Their marriage turns into a battlefield of a psychological struggle that is maintained by lies at the expense of each other. Finally, the paper concludes that Gone Girl can be regarded as a cultural critique. It has broken the gender stereotyping, brought out the societal pressuring, and indicated the manipulative ability of media in the formulation of contemporary relationships.

dark triad, narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy

"Psychological Warfare and Performative Identity: A Dark Triad Analysis of Gone Girl", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 10, page no.b517-b520, October-2025, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2510172.pdf

"Psychological Warfare and Performative Identity: A Dark Triad Analysis of Gone Girl", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.12, Issue 10, page no. ppb517-b520, October-2025, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2510172.pdf