PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAITS OF THE MAIN CHARACTERS IN GILLIAN FLYNN'S GONE GIRL

Abstract. The twenty-first century has witnessed a significant transformation in American detective fiction, where psychological elements have become central to narrative development and character construction. Rather than focusing solely on crime investigation, contemporary detective novels increasingly explore the emotional, cognitive, and moral dimensions of human behavior. This article examines the psychological elements in Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl (2012), one of the most influential detective novels of the twenty-first century. The study aims to analyze how Flynn employs psychological manipulation, unreliable narration, identity construction, marital conflict, and criminal motivation to create suspense and reveal the complexity of human psychology. The research applies qualitative textual analysis based on psychological and literary approaches. The findings indicate that Gone Girl represents a shift in detective fiction from external investigation to internal psychological exploration. Flynn's portrayal of Amy and Nick Dunne demonstrates that psychological elements play a crucial role in shaping both the plot and the reader's perception of truth. Consequently, the novel contributes significantly to the development of modern American detective fiction by emphasizing psychological depth over traditional detective conventions.