Themes
Fabricated Reality
Bret Easton Ellis uses Patrick’s insanity to make the reader question the legitimacy of the novel’s events. As the novel progresses, Patrick begins to see fantastical events that defy reality. When he sees “a Cheerio…interviewed for close to an hour” (Ellis, 418), it becomes evident that Patrick’s mind is slipping. The fact that he sees things, means that he could have imagined any number of the novel’s events. Furthermore, several of Patrick’s victims’ bodies go missing, and he has no explanation for where they went. The revelation that one of his victims has been seen alive shocks the reader just as much as it does Bateman. While Ellis never implicitly states that Bateman has imagined his murders, it is heavily implied through the events of the novel that he fabricated his serial killer identity.
Elitism
The wealthy cast of American Psycho consider themselves entitled to a better life than those they deem below them. They are elitist, and look down upon those less fortunate, especially the homeless. Patrick Bateman, yet again reflecting what he sees in extremes, takes elitism to a whole new level. He wants to be the very best in his social circle, and responds with great fits of rage when outdone in any way. When Paul Owen gets a reservation at a restaurant Patrick cannot, he is furious. When he finds out that Paul is handling a famous client, he is filled with envy. In the scene from the movie adaption above, Patrick is seen visibly disturbed by the fact that Paul Owen (named Paul Allen in the movie) has a better business card than him. Paul threats his position as the elite yuppie, and that is why Patrick murders him. When Luis Carruthers, the man no one likes, has a nicer business card than Patrick, Patrick tries to strangle him. Bateman views the people around him as threats to his elitism, and therefore eliminates them to solidify his elite status.
Misogyny
American Psycho gives Patrick a social circle consisting of a huge cast of rich men and women. While there are women in the novel, they are either sexual objects, or victims of Patrick’s deranged bloodlust. Patrick and his friends frequently judge women based solely on their physical appearance, and make sexual remarks quite often. Evelyn, one of the main female characters, is characterized as a self-obsessed narcissist who thinks the world revolves around her. She is constantly shown ranting about things that Patrick does not care about, and takes on the stereotypical role of a spoiled rich girl. The only woman who does not fit that image is Patrick’s secretary Jean. Patrick attempts to get her to dress more “feminine” by asking her to “wear a dress. A skirt or something” (Ellis, 70). Furthermore, Patrick displays extreme misogyny by beating a woman while having sex with her. That abuse pales in comparison however, to the torture he puts various females and prostitutes through. Throughout the novel, Patrick kills two men, but over 8 women. When he kills the men, it is usually not too gruesome. However, he records himself torturing all of female victims, behavior that suggests a deep hatred for women.
Mistaken Identity
Patrick and his friends are bad with names and constantly confuse people for someone they are not. Additionally, Paul Owen, one of Patrick’s victims, remains convinced throughout the novel that Patrick is a man named Marcus Halberstram. The constant mistaken identities are a social satire in themselves, as Bateman states, “everyone looks familiar, everyone looks the same” (Ellis, 64). Ellis uses mistaken identity to prove just how identical all of the young men in the novel are. However, the mistaken identity is also a major theme because it provides an explanation for the fact that no one reacts to Bateman’s murders. If the characters in American Psycho do not know for certain who they are talking to at any certain time, they would not notice if someone was to go missing. Therefore, when Patrick’s lawyer tells him that he had lunch with Paul Owen in London, it is likely that he had merely mistaken another man for Paul. The mistaken identities help Patrick get away with murder, but at the same time rob him of any meaningful relationships.
Fabricated Reality
Bret Easton Ellis uses Patrick’s insanity to make the reader question the legitimacy of the novel’s events. As the novel progresses, Patrick begins to see fantastical events that defy reality. When he sees “a Cheerio…interviewed for close to an hour” (Ellis, 418), it becomes evident that Patrick’s mind is slipping. The fact that he sees things, means that he could have imagined any number of the novel’s events. Furthermore, several of Patrick’s victims’ bodies go missing, and he has no explanation for where they went. The revelation that one of his victims has been seen alive shocks the reader just as much as it does Bateman. While Ellis never implicitly states that Bateman has imagined his murders, it is heavily implied through the events of the novel that he fabricated his serial killer identity.
Elitism
The wealthy cast of American Psycho consider themselves entitled to a better life than those they deem below them. They are elitist, and look down upon those less fortunate, especially the homeless. Patrick Bateman, yet again reflecting what he sees in extremes, takes elitism to a whole new level. He wants to be the very best in his social circle, and responds with great fits of rage when outdone in any way. When Paul Owen gets a reservation at a restaurant Patrick cannot, he is furious. When he finds out that Paul is handling a famous client, he is filled with envy. In the scene from the movie adaption above, Patrick is seen visibly disturbed by the fact that Paul Owen (named Paul Allen in the movie) has a better business card than him. Paul threats his position as the elite yuppie, and that is why Patrick murders him. When Luis Carruthers, the man no one likes, has a nicer business card than Patrick, Patrick tries to strangle him. Bateman views the people around him as threats to his elitism, and therefore eliminates them to solidify his elite status.
Misogyny
American Psycho gives Patrick a social circle consisting of a huge cast of rich men and women. While there are women in the novel, they are either sexual objects, or victims of Patrick’s deranged bloodlust. Patrick and his friends frequently judge women based solely on their physical appearance, and make sexual remarks quite often. Evelyn, one of the main female characters, is characterized as a self-obsessed narcissist who thinks the world revolves around her. She is constantly shown ranting about things that Patrick does not care about, and takes on the stereotypical role of a spoiled rich girl. The only woman who does not fit that image is Patrick’s secretary Jean. Patrick attempts to get her to dress more “feminine” by asking her to “wear a dress. A skirt or something” (Ellis, 70). Furthermore, Patrick displays extreme misogyny by beating a woman while having sex with her. That abuse pales in comparison however, to the torture he puts various females and prostitutes through. Throughout the novel, Patrick kills two men, but over 8 women. When he kills the men, it is usually not too gruesome. However, he records himself torturing all of female victims, behavior that suggests a deep hatred for women.
Mistaken Identity
Patrick and his friends are bad with names and constantly confuse people for someone they are not. Additionally, Paul Owen, one of Patrick’s victims, remains convinced throughout the novel that Patrick is a man named Marcus Halberstram. The constant mistaken identities are a social satire in themselves, as Bateman states, “everyone looks familiar, everyone looks the same” (Ellis, 64). Ellis uses mistaken identity to prove just how identical all of the young men in the novel are. However, the mistaken identity is also a major theme because it provides an explanation for the fact that no one reacts to Bateman’s murders. If the characters in American Psycho do not know for certain who they are talking to at any certain time, they would not notice if someone was to go missing. Therefore, when Patrick’s lawyer tells him that he had lunch with Paul Owen in London, it is likely that he had merely mistaken another man for Paul. The mistaken identities help Patrick get away with murder, but at the same time rob him of any meaningful relationships.
Consumerism
Brand names and material possessions are how Patrick and his friends measure other people’s worth. Luis Carruthers is an outcast and is ridiculed for not having expensive brand names such as Patrick and his friends. Bateman describes his outfits, and the outfits of anyone he meets, every time a new scene takes place. Consumerism encourages consuming products, and the people in American Psycho do so with ferocity. Patrick perverts the ideals of consumerism and mimics the mindless consumption of goods, while also taking it to new heights by consuming people. The people Bateman murders replace material goods, making his cannibalism an extreme version of consumerism.
Brand names and material possessions are how Patrick and his friends measure other people’s worth. Luis Carruthers is an outcast and is ridiculed for not having expensive brand names such as Patrick and his friends. Bateman describes his outfits, and the outfits of anyone he meets, every time a new scene takes place. Consumerism encourages consuming products, and the people in American Psycho do so with ferocity. Patrick perverts the ideals of consumerism and mimics the mindless consumption of goods, while also taking it to new heights by consuming people. The people Bateman murders replace material goods, making his cannibalism an extreme version of consumerism.