“I just don't want to die without a few scars, I say. It's nothing anymore to have a beautiful stock body. You see those cars that are completely stock cherry, right out of a dealer's showroom in 1955, I always think, what a waste.”
Upon realizing that flaws can spill outside the realm of personality vices or physical blemishes, a discovery is made; imperfections can be mistakes that were made throughout your life time or chances you took that did not always have the ending results you had hoped for. I
n this section of Fight Club, the protagonist, who remains unnamed throughout the entire novel, is reflecting on his recent enrollment with an underground fight club. The quote I chose was part of his internal thinking process after his boss, upon seeing the various bruises and cuts on his face, asked him, “What do you get yourself into every weekend?”
While it is easy to spend your life living in the shadows of those who choose to be audacious and step out of their comfort zone, even if the aftermath of their decisions is less than satisfying, the protagonist of the novel believes that to do so is a waste; you have a body and it is a misuse of this body if you don't make some errors before dying.
It may sound rather obvious, but while many people are willing to acknowledge their imperfections, far fewer people are willing to try and achieve things and make mistakes, in spite of their imperfections. Achilles was one of these brave men; during the war of Trojan, he valiantly fought even when he knew there was a possibility he would die at battle. Achilles was not afraid or ashamed of his imperfections and rather, fought to save his country while simultaneously fighting against his flaws.
While it's fair to say that the protagonist's decision to step bravely into unfamiliar territory is not exactly made in the best context (a dangerous fight club where men are badly beaten routinely), the protagonist does show a clear understanding that boundaries cannot be placed on a person simply because of their imperfections...
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