Rather, the film aims to portray the selfindulgent and hedonistic wall street elite. By the time the novel finally arrived in bookstores after vintage books. The ending of american psycho finally explained youtube. However, as patrick bateman, the narrator of american psycho, leads us down his. Ellis book that its based on, the ending of mary harrons american psycho is rather. Bret easton ellis is known for featuring his characters across several different novels. The novels firm rejection of reliable knowledge is one reason why it is considered to be a literary example of postmodernism. Thats right american psycho has one of those classic twist endings where most of the action of the movie and the book was a fantasy. Didnt really double check the source for this but that is what is stated for the book. American psycho is a novel by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. American psycho alternates seamlessly between reality and fantasy, giving the reader few clues as to whether the events transpiring are imagined or not. American psycho begins with the words at the entrance to dantes hell, scrawled in blood red lettering on the side of the chemical bank near the corner of eleventh and first. As his novel american psycho arrives in stores and death threats are. Much like the book its based on, american psycho isnt really about patrick bateman.
Irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic when published in 1991, bret easton elliss american psycho caused outrage for its depictions of violence, especially towards women. Bret easton ellis answers critics of american psycho. Surface, surface, surface was all that anyone found meaning in. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. Our interpretation of american psychos finale is far from the only opinion. Wikipedia states that the author deliberately left the reality of the murders open to interpretation. Set in manhattan during the wall street boom of the late 1980s, american psycho follows the life of wealthy young investment banker patrick bateman. As his novel american psycho arrives in stores and death threats are delivered suggesting he should be dismembered like the victims of the.
What is the explanation of the climax in american psycho. American psycho has been confusing viewers since it was released. Like the bret easton ellis book that its based on, the ending of mary harrons american psycho is rather ambiguous, and has been a source of debate amongst fans for a long time. The film adaptation of the bret easton ellis novel american psycho was released in 2000, and has been confusing viewers ever since. It may seem like one of the cheaper ways to end a story, a cliche finale used so often it practically has a spot on the hollywood walk of fame. As a literary offering, american psycho found few defendersmost notably norman. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan investment banker. It also reflects the fragmentary commentary found in the book about actors, elliss experience writing american psycho, the sexual revolution, millennials, social media, more social media. Welcome to the litcharts study guide on bret easton elliss american psycho. American psycho study guide from litcharts the creators of. The story is told in the first person by patrick bateman, a serial killer and manhattan businessman.
American psycho might have seemed like a straightforward film about a psychotic serial killer one who has good hygiene and knows his font types. We take a look at american psycho, both the novel and film, and see which one slays better. Be sure to leave a like a subscribe, and follow us. American psycho is a novel, by bret easton ellis, published in 1991. When published in 1991, bret easton elliss american psycho caused outrage for its depictions of violence, especially towards women. Bret easton ellis answers critics of american psycho the new. Irvine welsh american psycho is a modern classic books the. American psycho study guide literature guide litcharts.
American psycho author should stick to fiction the. Is patrick bateman an accurate representation of a psychopath. The ending of american psycho finally explained looper. Its about lifestyle being sold as life, a lifestyle that never seemed to include passion, creativity, curiosity, romance, pain. I still can t decide which of these interpretations is closer to the truth. I still think american psycho should be in my top ten books of all time. Ellis explained that the book was really about the dandification of the american male. While initially appearing straightforward, the film.
American psycho by bret easton ellis books the guardian. During the years i worked on the book, i did not know how violent it would. One of the more popular interpretations of american psycho. I know this book was written so that it could be openly interpreted be.