American Psycho: Obsession comes from the inability

To be successful and operative members of society, we must everlastingly be evolving with its changes. But once we grow hit-and-run(prenominal) towards other aspects of our lives, and focus on one only, negative effects inevitably follow. Obsession renders us dysfunctional citizens due to our inability to maintain equilibrise in our lives, and to let in understand ourselves as we argon. In the refreshed, American Psycho, by Bret Gaston Ellis, Patrick Bateman, a Manhattan socialite, Is a caricature by which the horrors of fixation are borderd.These fixations demonstrate that obsession comes from the inability to accept oneself. In the following paragraphs, we support our business by considering the fixations of Bateman with physical bang, success and Jealousy, and murder and gore. Batsmans fixation with physical beauty are all the way seen when he Is engaged in bragging and lay his wealth on display for the audience and later, for emphasis, cleansing with expensive interse ctions. Bateman cut d sustains his age In Indulgence of wealth he snorts cocaine, goes to clubs, and feeds his addiction to expensive labels. keep the ice-pack mask off and use a deep-pore cleanser lotion, then an herb-mint seventh cranial nerve masque I use the Bright tooth fender and next the Interplay tooth polisher In the shower I use first a water-activated gelatine cleanser, then a honey- almond body scrub L al modalitys use an later onshave lotion with little or alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out, and makes you look older. (26-27) He is motivated by his need for physical beauty to spend hours of every day fulfilling extensive cosmetic and exercise rituals.He is very particular(prenominal) about his products, settling for no less than a deep-pore cleanser lotion, and an herb-mint facial masque. HIS routines are detailed carefully so as to avoid any damage to his beauty, much(prenominal) as using alcohol, which dries your face out, and makes you look older . This obsession Is born from his Insecurity about his physical attractiveness. Throughout the book, Bateman is portrayed as being anxious about his looks, asking, WOWS my hair? (232) on numerous occasions. When he is uncomfortable in a social situation tit an ex-girlfriend, water supply immediately becomes self-conscious, What? I panic, immediately touching my hair. Too much groom? (236). Later in the book, he expresses his concerns about becoming addicted to exercise. When confronted, he states, You can always be thinner, look infract. (372) This obsession with his physical display clearly derived from his inability to accept himself physically. Batsmans dissatisfaction with his career is spare when he expresses his frustration about being a useless member of the stuff & Pierce firm which his father rustically owns.This dissatisfaction cultivates into an obsessive Jealousy of capital of Minnesota Hello, Owen, I say, admiring the way hes styled and slicked back his hair, w ith a part so even and conniving it Devastates me and I make a mental note to ask him where he purchases his hair-care products, which kind of mousse he uses, my final guess after mulling all over the possibilities being Ten -X. (1 1 1) From the introduction of Paul Owen in the legend until his murder, Bateman remains fixated on Omens success and handling of a prestigious account.There are numerous occasions in which he asks or thinks about this such as, Owen is standing near the bar Im about to walk over and relate something about that damned Fischer account (185). Batsmans obsession with Omens successful career comes from the dissatisfaction with his own. This is apparent when asked about work Patrick expresses frustration saying, l Just dont want to public lecture about Work I hate it. (237). As Batsmans fixation with Paul Owen and his success grows, he is less and less able to accept himself, and his weakness career until he is able to murder Owen ND rid himself of his ob session.Such actions clearly imply that Batsmans obsession was born from his inability to accept himself. Batsmans inability to accept and understand himself cultivates in an obsession with murder and gore. This is demonstrated throughout the novel when he murders, rapes, and tortures several people for little to no reason. He is unable(predicate) of accepting and coping with his incommode and thus becomes fixated on inflicting it upon others. My pain is never-ending and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone, in act I want my pain to be inflicted on others.I want no one to escape, but even after admitting, I gain no deeper knowledge of myself (201) Bateman expresses sorrow over not being able to understand himself, or to cope with and accept the pain of psychopaths. This need of connection with himself results in his dissatisfaction with his life, because of which he does not hope for a better world for anyone and inflicts his pain unto others. His inability to accept and understand his own pain is the origin of his uncontrollable obsession with murder and gore.Patrick Batsmans insecurities and the obsessions derived from them are wistful of the issues modern society is confronted with. The obsession with physical beauty as a product of low self-esteem, the obsession with others success as a product of ones inability to achieve their own, and the obsession with bringing pain upon others as a product of pain within oneself are the struggles that Patrick Bateman represents that will perhaps run into forever with mankind all of which support the argument that obsession originates from the lack of acceptance and understanding of oneself.