The fragmented self in postmodern american literature

Abstract

The current study gives attributes to Bret Easton Ellis' popular novel American Psycho (1991) by delving into the mental illness of the story's main character, applying Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate Patrick Bateman's personality intervention in every situation. It can therefore be a mixture of a person who has all the characteristics of a perfect man during the day and an obsessed, violent and schizophrenic person at night. On closer inspection, Patrick Bateman practically illustrates the absence of self, an id, which is allowed to take control of its most wicked delusions; while his superego only focuses on aberrant morality. This exposes the fact that Bateman is not able to distinguish reverie from reality. Moreover, Patrick may seem mean, built without attachment and without regret, but in reality, he also has his needs that push him to act like this .