American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
"American Psycho" is a novel by Bret Easton Ellis, published in 1991, that delves into the life of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker in 1980s New York City. Written in the first person using a stream-of-consciousness style, the narrative explores themes of excess, consumerism, and the superficiality of high society. Bateman's world is characterized by opulence, where he indulges in clubs, drugs, fashion, and a lifestyle marked by hedonism.
The novel's tension escalates as Bateman's mental stability deteriorates, culminating in acts of extreme violence and murder, particularly directed at women, which has drawn significant criticism from feminist groups. Ellis's exploration of Bateman's dehumanization of his victims as mere commodities serves as a critique of the era's voracious consumer culture. Despite its controversial content, "American Psycho" gained notoriety and has sold millions of copies globally, being translated into twenty-seven languages. The book's impact extended beyond literature, inspiring a film adaptation in 2000 and a theatrical production that premiered in 2013.
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American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
American Psycho is the third novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Published in 1991 by Vintage Books in New York and written in the first person, the novel takes place in New York City in the 1980s, a period of marked excess and ostentation. Ellis uses a stream-of-consciousness style to introduce the reader to Manhattan investment banker Patrick Bateman’s world of clubs, drugs, fashion, sex, and music. The novel’s dramatic tension stems from Bateman’s mental instability and penchant for violence. Bateman’s life begins to unravel after he commits murder and descends into chaos as he continues to act out his sadistic delusions.
Overview
Ellis began experimenting with stream-of-consciousness storytelling with his first book, Less Than Zero, published in 1985 by Simon & Schuster. The book explores the theme that would become the currency of Ellis’s creative work: the dark side of American high society. The 1987 film Less Than Zero, starring Andrew McCarthy and Robert Downey Jr., was loosely inspired by the book. Ellis’s second book, The Rules of Attraction (1987)—also published by Simon & Schuster—was adapted into a film in 2002. The book, a first-person narrative, recounts the sexual exploits of a group of wealthy college students in New Hampshire.
Having honed his abilities as a writer and fine-tuned his approach to controversial subject matter, Ellis next wrote American Psycho, which became his most popular book to date. Simon & Schuster refused to publish the book and sold the rights to the work to Vintage Books, an imprint of Random House. Upon its publication, the novel’s explicit descriptions of sex and violence generated international controversy, which only served to increase its notoriety and appeal among audiences. In Germany, Australia, and New Zealand, sale of the book was restricted by the government (banned books week). Much of the violence in the book is directed at women, leading to widespread criticism from feminist groups.
American Psycho, like Ellis’s other works, explores themes of excess and extreme behavior in upper-class America. However, the book is also considered a commentary on the voracious consumerism and superficiality that became widely entrenched in American culture during the 1980s. As the novel progresses, Bateman justifies his increasingly frantic bloodlust by dehumanizing his victims, conceiving of them as superficial commodities. Although Ellis’s writing remains concise and clear, the reader witnesses the novel’s main character carelessly consume increasing amounts of drugs, alcohol, and people for the sole purpose of further celebrating and satisfying the needs of his ego.
American Psycho has sold millions of copies worldwide and has been translated into twenty-seven languages. A film adaptation of the novel was released in 2000, directed by Mary Harron and starring Christian Bale. In 2013, a theatrical adaptation of the novel, featuring music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, debuted at Almeida Theatre in London, England, and ran until February of 2014. The show will open on Broadway in the United States in 2016.
Bibliography
Cohen, Roger. “Bret Easton Ellis Answers Critics of American Psycho.” New York Times. New York Times, 6 Mar. 1991. Web. 27 Sept. 2013 .
Dery, Jeruen. Rev. of American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis. Blogcritics. Blogcritics, 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Ellis, Bret Easton American Psycho. New York: Vintage, 1991. Print.
Fritz, Kristin. “A. O. Scott Looks Back at American Psycho on NYTimes.com.” Word & Film. Random House, 15 Nov. 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Jordison, Sam. “Guardian Book Club: Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho.” Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 14 July 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Marin, Rick. “American Psycho: Sliced. Diced. Back.” New York Times. New York Times, 9 Apr. 2000. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Rosenblatt, Roger. “Snuff This Book! Will Bret Easton Ellis Get Away with Murder?” New York Times. New York Times, 16 Dec. 1990. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.
Wilson, Karina. “LURID: American Psycho¾A Retrospective.” LitReactor. LitReactor, 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 27 Sept. 2013.