Violence in the Novel American Psycho

The novel American Psycho, by Brett Easton Ellis, has raised a great deal of controversy because of its graphic depictions of violence. The story is about an investment banker named Patrick Bateman who is secretly a psychotic murderer. Using the techniques of "black humor," Ellis describes many of Bateman's tortures and slayings in intricate detail. Despite Bateman's daring escapades, he is never caught. In fact, some of the black humor of the novel centers around Bateman's frequent confessions which are utterly ignored by his friends. In one passage, for example, Bateman looks an acquaintance right in the face and admits that he has killed and tortured many people. However, perhaps because the confession is shockingly unbelievable, the information goes unacknowledged.

Many people, both before and after publication of American Psycho, have been disturbed by the book. It has been argued that the violence is purely gratuitous and that there is no redeeming social value to the work as a whole. Originally, the book was scheduled to be published by Simon and Schuster. However, the head of the company, Richard Snyder, decided at the last minute not to publish it. Because of contract obligations, Ellis was able to keep the $300,000 advance that he received from Simon and Schuster for writing the novel. Soon after being dropped by Simon and Schuster, Sonny Mehta, the president of Vintage Books, decided to pick up the work and publish it. Ignoring the charges that the

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tatement regarding the horrors of modern times. Even the facts that the book's style is superficial and that Bateman remains a mystery in the end contribute to this statement. Regarding the violent content of the novel, there is little doubt that American society today is filled with examples of murder and torture similar to those which are expressed in Bateman's actions. Such horrors are constantly being displayed in news broadcasts, for example. In addition, American culture (movies, television, pop music, etc.) are often filled with disturbingly violent references. Christopher Hitchens makes this point when he claims: "I have read and seen police testimony that eats the soul and disturbs the sleep far more than any novel can." Furthermore, Ellis' descriptions of Bateman's acts cannot be taken as being merely gratuitous. In this regard, it has been noted that Ellis carefully researched the topic of serial killing before writing his book. Thus, although Bateman's murder sprees are shocking and disturbing, at the same time they provide an honest description of how real murderers often treat their victims. American Psycho is also artistic because it takes the reader into the mind of a disturbed individual. Even though

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