Petik.net - Bret Easton Ellis is one of the most influential and controversial authors of the late 20th and early 21st century. His novel American Psycho, published in 1991, is widely regarded as a masterpiece of transgressive fiction, satire, and horror.
The novel follows the life of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and narcissistic Wall Street banker who secretly indulges in a violent and sadistic lifestyle. The novel explores the themes of consumerism, superficiality, alienation, and morality in the decadent and materialistic society of the 1980s.
In this article, we will examine the background, plot, reception, and legacy of American Psycho and its author, Bret Easton Ellis.
Background of American Psycho and Bret Easton Ellis
Bret Easton Ellis was born in Los Angeles in 1964. He grew up in a wealthy and dysfunctional family, with an abusive father and a distant mother. He attended a prestigious private school, where he developed a passion for writing and literature.
He published his first novel, Less Than Zero, in 1985, when he was only 21 years old. The novel was a success, and depicted the nihilistic and hedonistic lifestyle of young and rich Los Angeles teenagers. Ellis followed up with his second novel, The Rules of Attraction, in 1987, which focused on the sexual and emotional relationships of college students.
Ellis began working on American Psycho in 1988, after moving to New York. He was inspired by his own experiences of isolation and alienation in the city, as well as by his fascination with serial killers and pop culture. He also wanted to write a satire of the yuppie culture and the Reagan era, which he saw as shallow and corrupt.
Heading 2: Plot of American Psycho
American Psycho is narrated by Patrick Bateman, a 26-year-old investment banker who works at Pierce & Pierce, a fictional firm on Wall Street. Bateman lives in a luxurious apartment on the Upper East Side, and spends his days working, dining, shopping, and socializing with his colleagues and friends, who are all equally wealthy, vain, and competitive.