Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung once stated that the most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely. In Marc Forster's film, Stranger than Fiction (2006), Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) leads an extraordinarily mundane life as an IRS tax auditor. He “was a man of infinite numbers, endless calculations, and remarkably few words” (Forster). Every weekday for the past 12 years he has had the same exact routine, even down to the number of times he brushed his teeth. On a seemingly typical day, he suddenly finds himself able to hear a mysterious voice, narrating his every move and thought. Karen Eiffel (Emma Thompson) is a writer famous for killing off the main characters of her novels in a poetic and beautiful way. In the film, she is working
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Although he lives a very solitary, predictable life, he surprisingly doesn’t enjoy his job at the IRS. While at work filing papers, Karen’s voice narrates him thinking about how the sound the paper makes against the folder reminds him of a “deep and endless ocean” (Forster). Harold daydreaming during his job suggests that he has a personal unconscious desire to be elsewhere. The ocean symbolizes many things, among them are life, mystery, and hope. In the beginning he is longing for a change in routine, however, because of his compulsive personality, he is chained to the same routine everyday. Another unconscious desire that comes to light once Harold starts hearing Karen is his longing for love. When he first met Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal) he came to her bakery to audit her. He “wasn't prone to fantasies and so he tried his best to remain professional. But, of course, failed. He couldn't help but imagine Ms. Pascal...immersed in a tub, shaving her legs” (Forster). Karen narrates his innermost thoughts and reveals that he yearns for love and …show more content…
Once he obtains the copy of the novel with his death written in it from Karen, he confides in Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who had helped him piece together what was happening to him. He tells Professor Hilbert that “I can’t die right now, it’s just really bad timing” (Forster). Harold allows Professor Hilbert to read the outline first since he can’t bring himself to read his death. The next time they meet, the professor tells Harold that “It’s the most important novel in her already stunning career, and it’s absolutely no good unless you die at the end” (Forster). After his talk with the professor, Harold gets on the bus and reads the whole novel, and finally comes to accept his death. This is the point where he completely reaches
Although he lives a very solitary, predictable life, he surprisingly doesn’t enjoy his job at the IRS. While at work filing papers, Karen’s voice narrates him thinking about how the sound the paper makes against the folder reminds him of a “deep and endless ocean” (Forster). Harold daydreaming during his job suggests that he has a personal unconscious desire to be elsewhere. The ocean symbolizes many things, among them are life, mystery, and hope. In the beginning he is longing for a change in routine, however, because of his compulsive personality, he is chained to the same routine everyday. Another unconscious desire that comes to light once Harold starts hearing Karen is his longing for love. When he first met Ana Pascal (Maggie Gyllenhaal) he came to her bakery to audit her. He “wasn't prone to fantasies and so he tried his best to remain professional. But, of course, failed. He couldn't help but imagine Ms. Pascal...immersed in a tub, shaving her legs” (Forster). Karen narrates his innermost thoughts and reveals that he yearns for love and …show more content…
Once he obtains the copy of the novel with his death written in it from Karen, he confides in Professor Jules Hilbert (Dustin Hoffman), who had helped him piece together what was happening to him. He tells Professor Hilbert that “I can’t die right now, it’s just really bad timing” (Forster). Harold allows Professor Hilbert to read the outline first since he can’t bring himself to read his death. The next time they meet, the professor tells Harold that “It’s the most important novel in her already stunning career, and it’s absolutely no good unless you die at the end” (Forster). After his talk with the professor, Harold gets on the bus and reads the whole novel, and finally comes to accept his death. This is the point where he completely reaches