American Psycho Plot Summary

American Psycho is the story of Patrick Bateman, a rich, arrogant, twenty-something yuppie in 1980’s New York, who also happens to be an insane serial killer. He is the quintessential citizen of consumer society who consumes the victims of his insanity, all with the same disengaged obsession he uses in choosing outfits. There is no real plot, no consistent time line, rather it is told as a series of events from Bateman’s point of view. Furthermore there is no real character development; Bateman does not seem to see his “friends” or acquaintances as people, instead he observes them as objects. He does not describe those he comes across by their physical characteristics or their personalities, but rather by what they are wearing and who designed it. At times these descriptions can get downright tedious, but I believe that this is the way Bateman perceives everything… as blatantly boring. His only concerns seem to be his appearance, women (hard bodies) and the murderous things he wants to do to them, how much items cost, the videotape rentals he has to return.