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| “ | Look upon me!! I'll show you the life of the mind! (Screaming as he runs down the burning hallways) Look upon me! I"ll show you the life of the mind! I'll show the life of the mind! I'll show you the life of the mind! I WILL SHOW YOU THE LIFE OF THE MIND!!! | „ |
| ~ Mundt as he chases down Detective Deutsch as the hotel hallway burns around him. |
Karl "Madman" Mundt, under the alias of Charlie Meadows, is the main antagonist of the Coen Brothers black comedy film Barton Fink.
He serves as the titular characters next-door neighbor, who poses as an insurance salesman and pretends to be Barton's friend. However, he is soon revealed to be a ruthless serial killer known to decapitate his victims and shooting them with a shot gun.
He was portrayed by John Goodman, who also portrayed Ocious P. Potter in The Borrowers, Big Dan Teague in O Brother, Where Art Thou, a possessed Jonesy in Fallen, Bones Darley in Death Sentence, Chuck Long in Evan Almighty, Marshall in The Hangover, and voiced Layton T. Montgomery in Bee Movie, and George Wolfsbottom in Clifford's Really Big Movie.
Personality[]
| “ | DETECTIVE MASTRIONOTTI: Started in Kansas City. Couple of housewives. DETECTIVE DEUTSCH: Couple days ago we see the same M.O. out in Los Feliz. |
„ |
| ~ Detectives Mastrionotti and Deutsch describing Mundt and his crimes |
There are two sides to the character of Charlie Meadows/Karl Mundt. One is a friendly and good mannered man who is great to talk to. However, underneath that persona is a dangerously unstable and violent man, striking out at people when they've insulted him, even unintentionally.
When Barton first meets Meadows, he takes on the appearance of a well-intentioned, optimistic, enthusiastic businessman who enjoys conversating with people. He and Barton strike up a comaradre when they first meet, despite Charlie having his music all the way up. Charlie appears to have plenty of stories from his travels as an insurance salesperson and genuinely wishes to help Barton with his screenplay. On the surface, Charlie seems to be an overall simple man.
However, he secretly hides a dark passenger who's rage is destructive and violent. When Barton disregarded Charlies ideas about the "common man" and only focused on his screenplay, a growing resentment began to brew beneath the surface. This led to him to commit the murders of Audrey when she was sleeping with Barton, kill W.P. Mayhew while directing the police onto Barton, and possibly murder Bartons whole family in a bloody and brutal revenge.
What makes Mundt such an intimidating character is how seemless his murderous outbursts can be hidden behind his polite facade. Barton is unaware of Charlie's true nature until midway through the film when the police reveal his mugshot. Charlie was even able to fake shock and disgust at the sight of Audrey's body, despite the fact that he himself killed her. He even convinced Barton to hold onto a box that (possibly) contained Audreys head, showing his disturbed sadism. This can be traced back to borderline-personality disorder, where people are consumed by explosive outbursts on spurs of the moment.
However, when Charlie is completely consumed with hate, he's an almost unholy killing machine. When the police return to his hotel looking for Mundt, he doesn't hesitate to execute both detectives as the walls catch aflame around him, taking on an almost demonic presence. When his rampage has quelled, he immediately returns to his humbled persona, making small talk with Barton despite his terror of him. Charlie reveals that he wishes that someone would help him with his problems, but no one gives him the time of day. After his discussion, he breaks the bed that Barton was handcuffed to, as a sign of good faith or a morbid sense of mercy.
Overall, Charlie/Mundt is one of the most dangerous villains that the Coen Brothers have ever crafted, because Karl is exceptional at pretending to be normal, only to reveal the monster behind the man. He is a beast of two faces, where one side is the charming and likable Charlie, while the other is the unhinged and spiteful Mundt.
Biography[]
Barton Fink[]
Barton Meets "Charlie."[]
As Barton Fink firsts moves into his dismal hotel room, he overhears some loud music coming from the room next door. After calling the front desk to ask them to talk to him, his neighbor Charlie Meadows comes over and apologizes to Barton personally. After introducing themselves, both Barton and Carl strike up a conversation about their professions as an insurance salesman and a movie script writer. However, Barton unknowingly insults Charlie by boasting about how his work is about "real" theatre and vainly describes the downfalls of the current film industry. While he doesn't say anything about it, Charlie keeps up the conversation in a respectable manner. After talking with Mr. Lipnick about his movie script, Barton attempts to write a wrestling picture with no results.
Audrey's Murder.[]
Despite the budding friendship between them, Barton can't truly sympathize with Charlie as a person. As Barton continues to struggle and complete his wrestling script, Charlie himself volunteers to teach him some wrestling tips in order to help Barton with his work. While Barton hesitantly accepts, he is uncomfortable with the entire situation. After Barton notices that his ear is leaking, Charlie explains that he has had this infection for a while. As Barton asks why not got to a doctor, he tells that the doctor wouldn't be able to help him. When Barton becomes acquainted with alcoholic W.P. Mayhew, he becomes smitten with his secretary, who has actually ghostwritten a majority of Mayhew's productions. They soon spend a great night together, only for Barton to awaken and horrifyingly realize that Audrey has been murdered.
Having no one to turn to at this time, he calls Charlie over and shows him the dead body. After implying that the police will suspect him because he had slept with her the night before, Charlie consoles him that he will handle it. As Barton sits shell-shocked in the bathroom, Charlie manages to clean up the crime scene and gets rid of Audrey's body. This breaks down Barton even more and starts to walk in an almost detached daze. With the deadline for the screenplay approaching, Charlie tells him that he's going to be gone to New York for a few days and drops off a package for Barton to look over. He claims that it belongs to him and that everything that he owns is held in that one tiny box, which Barton agrees. Before Charlie leaves, Barton gives him the addresses of his parents and uncle in New York, grateful for the help.
True Colors Revealed.[]
Not long after Charlie leaves, police detectives Mastrionotti and Deustch visit Barton. They show him a photograph of Charlie and reveal him to be Karl "Madman" Mundt, a serial killer who murdered some housewives in Kansas before escaping to L.A. They also reveal that they found the body of Audrey, revealing that Mundt murdered her, but Audrey's head is still missing. Shocked and disturbed, Barton explains that he didn't know anything about Charlie's double life. However, they suspect that Barton must have had some connection to Mundt and intend to keep him under surveillance. After the police leave, Barton looks at the box and puts it on his desk, suspecting that the box might contain Audrey's head.
Mundt's Return[]
Somehow, this sparks some creative epiphany in Barton's ming, spurring him to write and finish his screenplay in just one night. After celebrating at a party and getting into a fight over a meltdown, the cops arrive and reveal that they found Mayhew's body. Now suspecting that Barton was working with Mundt at both murders, handcuff him to the bed. However, after hearing the elevator ding, the two cops go outside to investigate. Mundt appears in the hallway and Mastrionotti orders him to put his case down and hands in the air. As he puts the case down, he pulls out a shotgun and shoots him dead. Then, flames begin to engulf the hallway as Mundt screams to look upon him and that he'll show Deutsch "the life of the mind." Screaming and chasing Deutsch, Mundt manages to shoot him in the leg as he attempts to escape. With Deutsch at his mercy, Mundt ironically says "Heil Hitler" before shooting him in the head.
Mundt then enters the room as Barton looks on in terror. After complaining on the heat, Charlie sits down and discusses with Barton about his mental unsoundness. He goes on to explain that he's not angry at anyone and only wants to "help" them. He goes on to exclaim that he's in constant mental agony After Barton asks why he targeted him, he angrily exclaims that Barton doesn't listen and that his own personal hell is worse then Barton's. He also complains that Barton's a "tourist with a typewriter," not understanding that he didn't like being complained on for making too much noise.
Barton apologizes to Mundt for his actions, with Charlie says he should't be. Then, using his immense strength, Mundt breaks the bedpost and frees Barton. After saying that he'll be next door if he needs him, Charlie then tells him that he was lying about the box, it wasn't his. He then implies that he visited Barton's family and possibly murdered them before departing. As Barton leaves his room, he sees Charlie entering his appartment as the walls continue to burn. After Barton leaves, he calls about the status of his parents with no answer. The current status of Charlie Meadows/Karl Mundt and Barton's family remains unknown.
Gallery[]
Quotes[]
| “ | You think I made your life hell? Take a look around this dump. You're just a tourist with a typewriter, Barton. I live here. | „ |
| ~ Mundt criticizing Barton for failing to understand him |
| “ | Charlie Meadows : And I could tell you some stories...
Barton Fink : Sure you could and yet many writers do everything in their power to insulate themselves from the common man, from where they live, from where they trade, from where they fight and love and converse and... and... So naturally their work suffers and regresses into empty formalism and... well, I'm spouting off again, but to put it in your language, the theatre becomes as phony as a three-dollar bill. Charlie Meadows : Well, I guess that's a tragedy right there. |
„ |
| ~ Barton and Charlie's conversation, with Barton unknowingly insulting Mundt and bringing his wrath down. |
| “ | Heil Hitler! | „ |
| ~ Mundt before he kills Detective Deutsch |
| “ | [after Mundt has killed two officers and supernaturally lit the hallways on fire, he returns back to Barton's room now as Charlie; as he enters, he puts the shotgun up on the door frame] Charlie Meadows : Barton. Brother, is it hot. How you been, buddy? |
„ |
| ~ Charlie explaining why he's been killing people |
| “ | Charlie Meadows : Jesus, it's hot. Sometimes it gets so hot, I want to crawl right out of my skin.
Barton Fink : But, Charlie, why me? Why --? Charlie Meadows : [as Mundt] Because you DON'T LISTEN! |
„ |
| ~ Barton inquiring into why Charlie targeted him, with Mundt answering. |
| “ | Barton Fink : I'm sorry.
Charlie Meadows : Don't be. I'll be in the next door if you need me. [starts to leave] Charlie Meadows : Oh... I dropped in on your folks in New York. And Uncle Maury. Good people. By the way, that package I gave you? I lied. It isn't mine. |
„ |
| ~ Barton apologizing to Charlie, with the latter sparing him and Mundt's final words |
Trivia[]
- The film does not fully explain Charlie Meadows' motivations in becoming a serial killer, but alludes to several possible reasons. Meadows works in a dead-end-job as a door-to-door salesman, and finds that his work demeans him. He complains several times that people have been cruel to him, and seems sincere when talking about his loneliness. In addition, he views his murders as mercy killings. He views the people he meets as trapped, and tries to end their misery.
- Mundt has been considered to be the actual devil, with his association with fire and his dual personality reminiscent of Satan or Lucifer from Christian mythology.
- The Coen Brothers wrote the role specifically for John Goodman, whose charming presence could put viewers into a false sense of security until it was too late.
- Mundt had complained about an ear infection that has constantly leaked out fluids in his left ear. This can be seen as a sign of a severe mental issues that could've led to Mundt being the destructive and blood-thirsty killer that he is today.
- In the film, the two police detectives assume that Barton Fink and Charlie Meadows are homosexual lovers, though Fink vehemently denies it. Joel Coen confirmed in an interview that the homoerotic overtones of their relationship were intentional. The first "friendly" words Meadows offers to Fink in their initial meeting (an offer to buy him a drink) is actually a standard pick-up line.
- Karl E. Mundt was the name of a real US Senator from South Dakota, next to the Coens' home state of Minnesota. He served in the Senate when the Coens were growing up (1948-73).
- Throughout the film, Barton Fink claims to care about the perspective of the "common man". But he keeps silencing working stiff Charlie Meadows whenever the other man tries to share stories about his past with Fink. Fink's inability to listen to other people is one of his main flaws, and Meadows berates him about it during their final confrontation.
- Charlie Meadows' final speech was written by the screenwriters at the start of the writing process. They had come up with a finale for the film before they fleshed out any previous events of the story.
- In the film, Barton Fink is asked to safeguard a package that supposedly has sentimental value for Charlie Meadows. When Meadows is revealed to be a serial killer, Fink keeps the package but decides against opening it. It is implied that the package contains severed heads, but the narrative never clarifies the identities of the victims.
- In the film, Charlie considers himself a prisoner of his own mental state. The hotel where he spends most of his life functions as a hellish prison for him, and he is eventually unable or unwilling to flee from the hotel's flames.
- At one point, Fink says to Charlie that his plays are about common people like Charlie, and extends his reasoning by saying that the hopes and dreams of the simple man are just as noble as the ones from a king. That same year, John Goodman, who plays Charlie, played a common man who becomes a king in King Ralph (1991).
- Charlie Meadows tells Barton Fink: "Fire, theft and casualty are not things that only happen to other people." This was first seen as a sales pitch in the narrative, but was later revealed to be a veiled threat. It is implied (but not outright stated) that Meadows proceeded to kill Fink's entire family, Fink's lover, and Fink's would-be mentor. He also may have something to do with the fire that destroys Fink's room.