Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
AGUSTINA DIAN KD.
Student Number: 034214067
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
PATRICK BATEMAN IN BRET EASTON ELLIS’
AMERICAN PSYCHO: SATIRE OF 1980s AMERICANS
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
AGUSTINA DIAN K. D.
Student Number: 034214067
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
PATRICK BATEMAN IN BRET EASTON ELLIS’ AMERICAN
PSYCHO: SATIRE OF 1980s AMERICANS
By
AGUSTINA DIAN K. D.
Student Number: 034214067
Approved by
Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M. Hum. October 8, 2007. Advisor
A Sarjana Sastra Undergraduate Thesis
PATRICK BATEMAN IN BRET EASTON ELLIS’ AMERICAN
PSYCHO: SATIRE OF 1980s AMERICANS
By
AGUSTINA DIAN K. D.
Student Number: 034214067
Declared before the Board of Examiners on November 24, 2007
and Declared Acceptable
BOARD OF EXAMINERS
Name Signature
“THE GIFT YOU HAVE”
I look at some gifted people ~ some God-given ~
gifted people ~ and oftentimes I wish I could do
what they do. But God does not want us to feel
guilty. Use the gifts you have, because God never
calls us to do more than that for which he has
equipped us.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Throughout my 22 years on earth and especially the four and a half years I have spent in college, God’s love has never stopped protecting and guiding me to the very spot I am today. Therefore my greatest gratitude first and foremost goes to God Almighty, thank you for guiding me to be who I currently am. Throughout those years, my parents inevitably are the ones who have supported me every single second, lifted me up every single time I fall and loved me when no one else would. Thank you, mom, dad; this is for and because of you. To my dearly annoying brother whose existence I have often taken for granted, thank you for never stopped helping me with things I could not cope with.
Next, my huge gratitude goes to my Advisor and Co-Advisor, Miss Ni Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S, M. Hum. and Miss Modesta Luluk Artika Windrasti, S.S. whose guidance and support have made this thesis possible to be finished. I can never thank you enough for the wisdom, knowledge and especially patience that you have shown me. To my lecturers in English Letters department, thank you for the knowledge and guidance that you have given me throughout my years in college. May God bless you your whole life through.
’06, Meme, Tiara, Stella, Danix, and those others whom I cannot name for it would be a never ending list. Still, you know who you are, and your names will never be erased from my heart. To Felix, Alice, Ginting, and Arus Bawah
community, thank you for your generous help in making this thesis comprehensible. To the “PRUE” family, Mas Danang, Mb.Dian, Debby-bear, Aa’
Yere, Jupri, Ba-Nana, Alfa, and the others, thank you for having an outsider like me in your ‘circle’. I have had the best of time. A special thank goes to Mas
Danang, thank you for calling me “Dek” almost the entire time we know each other. I truly appreciate it. Thank you also to Gregorius Purna for the inspiration that I can finally come up with such topic.
Within the last year, I have also been blessed with a special new family whose support has helped me to be a better person and taught me to deal with life in a better manner. Thank you to the big family of the Language Institute of Sanata Dharma University (LISDU). It has been such a pleasure and honor being with all of you. I am terribly sorry for not mentioning your names one by one since I have found so many beloved people. Still, it will not lessen my gratitude. I truly expect more help, support and joy to be shared in our future times as a family.
Last but not least, thank you, my fellow comrades who are still struggling for the better future. This is only the beginning so keep up the fight!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW... 7
A. Review of Related Studies ... 7
B. Review of Related Theories ... 9
1. Theories on Character and Characterization... 9
2. Theory on Representation ... 11
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY... 22
A. Object of the Study ... 22
B. Approach to the Study... 23
C. Method of the Study ... 25
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ... 28
A. The Characteristics of Patrick Bateman which Represent the 1980s Americans ... 28
B. The behaviors of the 1980s Americans satirized through the characteristics of Patrick Bateman ... 44
1. Consumption ... 44
2. Morality ... 50
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ... 57
APPENDICES... 65
ABSTRACT
AGUSTINA DIAN KD. Patrick Bateman in Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho: Satire of 1980s Americans. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University (2007).
From time to time, literary works have been used as a means to satirize the misbehaviors of the society. This undergraduate thesis focuses on a particular literary work, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. This work has gained notorious popularity not only because of its graphic content of violence and sexual scenes, but also of the high consideration that the novel is a satire of the 1980s Americans. Such condition is worth studying in order to see that the novel truly satirizes the moral corruption of the 1980s Americans.
This undergraduate thesis analyzes two main problems. The first one is the characteristics of the novel’s main character which represent the 1980s Americans, Patrick Bateman. The characteristics will then be analyzed further in order to reach the actual goal of the thesis which is to obtain the understanding on what behaviors of the 1980s Americans that the author, Bret Easton Ellis, satirizes through the characteristics of Patrick Bateman.
The study of the novel was conducted through library research using related books, articles and internet resources. In conducting the study (analyzing process), first the characteristics of the main character was analyzed using theory on characters and characterizations. Next, Bateman’s characteristics and also the socio-historical background were analyzed using theory of satire to see that those characteristics really satirize the society. The final step was answering the second problem which is the behaviors of the society which Bateman’s characteristics satirize.
ABSTRAK
AGUSTINA DIAN KD. Patrick Bateman in Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho: Satire of 1980s Americans. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University (2007).
Dari waktu ke waktu, karya sastra telah dipergunakan untuk menyatir perilaku manusia dan masyarakat yang menyimpang. Skripsi ini menitik beratkan pada karya sastra American Psycho karangan Bret Easton Ellis. Karya sastra ini memperoleh reputasi yang tidak baik bukan hanya karena kekerasan dan adegan seksual yang digambarkan secara vulgar, melainkan juga karena opini yang berkembang luas bahwa novel ini ialah sebuah satir terhadap masyarakat Amerika di tahun 1980an. Kondisi tersebut layak untuk dipelajari lebih lanjut untuk mengetahui bahwa novel ini benar-benar menyatir kebobrokan masyarakat Amerika di tahun 1980an.
Skripsi ini menganalisa dua masalah utama, yang pertama ialah karakteristik tokoh utama sekaligus narator novel tesebut, yakni Patrick Bateman. Karakteristik ini kemudian dipelajari lebih lanjut untuk mencapai tujuan kedua dan utama skripsi ini, yakni mencapai pemahaman perilaku-perilaku apa saja dari masyarakat Amerika tahun 1980an yang disatir oleh Ellis melalui Patrick Bateman.
Analisa novel ini dilaksanakan dengan cara studi pustaka menggunakan buku, artikel serta sumber-sumber online yang berkaitan. Dalam proses analisa, mula-mula karakteristik dari tokoh utama yang akan dipelajari dianalisa mengunakan teori karakter dan karakterisasi. Selanjutnya, karakteristik tersebut beserta latar belakang sejarah dan sosial dari masyarakt Amerika tahun 1980an dianalisa dengan teori satir untuk mengetahui apakah karakteristik tersebut merupakan suatu satir. Langkah terakhir dalam proses ini ialah menjawab rumusan masalah kedua, yakni perilaku-perilaku masyarakat Amerika tahun 1980an yang disatir oleh Bateman.
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Both the author of these Notes and the Notes themselves are, of course, fictional. Nevertheless, such persons as the composer of these Notes not only exist in our society, but indeed must exist, considering the circumstances under which our society has generally been formed.
(Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground)
From time to time, literary works are not only used merely as a device to satisfy the needs for entertainment or to express ideas and imaginations. In addition, they have also been used as a representation of the society, a means to identify the norms and values of the society, and also widely used as a way to satirize the misbehaviors of the society. However, this thesis will only focus on the function of a literary work as a means to satirize the misbehaviors of the society without referring to the other functions of a literary work. A satire can be described as the literary art of making a subject weaker or becoming less meaningful by making it ridiculous and evoking contemplation or even indignation (Abrams, 1993: 187).
ones that can vividly describe the society and ridicule it at the same time through the characteristics of the characters. Such opinion is supported by Dostoyevsky’s words at the beginning of this chapter, taken from Notes From Underground,
from which it can be understood that the persons that exist in a fictive work of art must exist in the society related to the situations of the society at that time. Therefore, the characters of a literary work, though fictional, must have some connections or relevance to the actual individuals or types of individuals in the society of the work’s time setting or of the time when the author lives.
This undergraduate thesis focuses on a particular literary work, American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis which is one work that gained notorious popularity especially in the beginning of its publication, because of its graphic content of violence and sexual scenes. The main reason why this novel gained (and even still given) such reputation is due to the high consideration of the novel as a satire of the society at the time it was written, which is the 1980s Americans. This popularity is caused by the widely accepted consideration retrieved from
en.wikipedia.org that American Psycho’s main character, as well as its narrator, Patrick Bateman, is the “metaphor for the plastic aspects (of) 1980s”. Such consideration is bothersome for the Americans especially because Bateman is described as a psychopath, drug abuser, and narcissistic man who is a member and product of capitalist consumerism.
1980s Americans. Therefore, this thesis will discuss the novel as a satire of the society which is the Americans of the 1980s.
In studying a literary work, the work must be analyzed first to see what it is talking about. According to the information retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psycho, American Psycho mainly tells about the life of a young Manhattan executive who is very successful in life, but living his night-time as a serial killer who kills people just to satisfy his needs to feel ‘complete’ in life. According to Katherine Dunn on her critique written on the back cover of the novel, or the blurb, this novel is a “masterful satire and a ferocious, hilarious, ambitious, inspiring piece of writing” which then provokes people not only to purchase the book, but also to consider the aspects of the society which it satirizes.
Due to this thought, the aspects of the society satirized by the novel and also the means used to satirize them are relevant and essential to be studied on this undergraduate thesis. In brief analysis based on surface reading on the novel, it can be known that one aspect that is clearly satirized by the novel is the aspect of capitalist consumption. This aspect marks the society of Americans in the 1980s that is ‘crazy’ about anything considered as ‘high-class items’ and is engaged in mass consumerism. This capitalist consumption is personified by Bateman who gives a perfect example of a member of the capitalist society, a society who mainly cares about producing and accentuating wealth.
be available on social gatherings. Through close reading and in-depth analysis, other aspects of the society which are satirized by Bateman will be able to be revealed in order to prove the opinion that the novel truly is a masterful satire and not merely a piece of junk or Ellis’ wild and ‘sick’ imagination caused by its vivid and detailed descriptions of violence and sexual activities.
This thesis is written mainly in the purpose of studying whether or not Ellis’
American Psycho copies “the model it is supposed to denounce” as stated by Alberto Manguel (Messier, 2004: 173) as retrieved from
http://grad.uprm.edu/tesis/messiervartan.pdf. Manguel also has the opinion that
American Psycho is “not a novel of literary claims” and cannot seriously be considered as a satire because of the minimalist prose style and the grotesque descriptions in it. Therefore, this undergraduate thesis is written to study Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho as the social satire towards the American society in the 1980s.
B. Problem Formulation
1. What are the characteristics of Patrick Bateman which represent the Americans of 1980s?
2. What are the behaviors of the 1980s Americans satirized through the characteristics of Patrick Bateman?
C. Objectives of the Study
The study on this thesis is done at first to understand the characteristics of the novel’s main character, Patrick Bateman. This understanding is beneficial to reach the actual goal of the thesis which is to obtain the understanding on how the author, Bret Easton Ellis, satirizes the 1980s Americans through the characteristics of Patrick Bateman. Such objective is taken due to the statement by Bill Jackson, retrieved from www-tech.mit.edu/V111/N18/jackso.18o.html that this novel “manages to make a weak but definite point about the 80s”.
D. Definition of Terms
294). However, according to en.wikipedia.org, even though satire is usually very funny and witty, the purpose of satire is not mainly focused on the humor and laughter, but “criticism of an event, an individual or a group in a clever manner” for a corrective purpose.
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
The novel American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis has been studied several times for various purposes. Here are two examples of studies done on the novel but for two different purposes. The first one is a review by Bill Jackson written as an article on The Tech of MIT, volume 111, number 18, page 1. In this article retrieved from www-tech.mit.edu/V111/N18/jackso.18o.html, Bill Jackson did not merely talk or criticize the novel’s harsh content but emphasized more on the values that the author (Ellis) wants to share about the phenomena taking place in the 1980s along with its people’s misleading behaviors.
Ellis wrote American Psycho to get attention, and he got it. I've never read one of his novels before and probably never will again. It is not a great novel by any standard, but it is occasionally very funny, sometimes quite repugnant, and manages to make a weak but definite point about the 80s. It is a black comedy played to extremes, that is all, and the publication of
American Psycho will not bring down the pillars of American society. To paraphrase Alfred Hitchcock, relax. It's only a book. (1991: 1)
Another study on the novel was done by Vartan P. Messier for his thesis for the degree of Master of Arts in English Education in the University of Puerto Rico, in 2004. In his thesis entitled “Canons of Transgression: Shock, Scandal, and Subversion from Matthew Lewis’ The Monk to Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho”, retrieved from http://grad.uprm.edu/tesis/messiervartan.pdf, Messier used American Psycho as a subject of ‘transgressive’ texts, which are literary works that “question ruling conventions by shocking their audiences and arousing controversy” (Messier, 2004: 5). He discussed the novel mainly on the last chapter (Chapter 4, Pornography and Violence: The Dialectics of Transgression in Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho) dealing exclusively with the reception and interpretation of the novel while analyzing various controversial passages and its wide reputation as a satire towards consumer capitalism. The thesis also discussed the debate concerning its literary claims.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories on Characters and Characterizations
Character, according to Abrams is the person “presented in a dramatic or narrative work … interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral, dispositional, and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say - the dialogue and by what they do - the action” (1993: 23). While according to Holman and Harmon, a character is a complicated term including the idea of moral constitution of human personality, the moral uprightness, and the presence of creatures in works of art which seem to be human in one way or the other (1986: 81). From these sources it can be restated that character is a complicated term in literary works which has the idea of moral constitution in human’s personality and having moral uprightness which the readers interpret as having the qualities of human expressed in what they say or do.
Furthermore, a character may be flat or having only a single idea or quality without much detail. It can also be round, which means that it has more complex characteristics as a real life person. A character may also be static, experiencing only slight changes in the plot, or dynamic, influenced by actions and experiences and used to reveal the consequences of his or her actions (Holman-Harmon, 1986: 24).
by the author, second, the character’s own presentation in action without any comment from the author, and last the representation from within a character of the impact of certain events towards the character’s inner self, also without any interference from the author (1986: 81).
Meanwhile M.J. Murphy explained that there are nine ways of how an author makes his character understandable for the reader. Sometimes not all of the steps are used by authors to show their characters’ characteristics. However some of them must exist. Those nine steps are described as follows.
a. Personal Description
The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes in details so that the readers will be able to figure the personality of the character based on his or her appearance.
b. Character as seen by another
Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another character in the novel.
c. Speech
The author can give us an insight into the characteristics of one of the characters in the book through what that person says.
d. Past Life
e. Conversation of others
The author can also give us clues to a person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him.
f. Reactions
The author can give us a clue in a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events.
g. Direct comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly through the narration, especially in third-person narration.
h. Thoughts
The author can give us direct knowledge of what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking told by the omniscient narrator. i. Mannerisms
The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits of idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about his character (1972: 161-173).
Based on these characterizations, the characteristics of Patrick Bateman were revealed to understand further the hidden message or satire expressed through Bateman’s characteristics.
2. Theory on Representation
language as un-problematically adequate to what it represents (and) thinks of representation as an individual phenomena … a movement over or an experience of surfaces”. Surface representation gives primary concern to the visible aspects. Meanwhile representation of the depths or ‘depth representation’ means penetrating the visible to what is “supposedly secretes or embodies and capturing the distilled essence and saturating language in it” (1996, pp. 81 - 82).
In Peter Barry’s Beginning Theory: An introduction to literary and cultural theory, representation, or in the book known by the name sign, needs to undergo a series of steps before reaching its present stage of emptiness. First, it represents a basic reality. Second, it misrepresents the reality behind it. Third, it disguises the fact that there is no corresponding reality underneath the representation. Fourth and the last stage is that it bears no relation at all to any reality (2002, pp. 87-88).
3. Theory on Satire
form of dark humor. Moreover other than making something ridiculous, a literary work can also satirize a certain thing by exaggerating it beyond the normal condition.
Seen from the etymology, the word ‘satire’ means “a dish filled with mixed fruits”, which can be referred to as a medley or combination (Holman-Harmon, 1986: 448). In their book, Holman and Harmon also wrote the division of satire by critics into two major types, formal or direct satire and indirect satire. In the direct satire the satiric voice speaks directly in the first person towards the reader or the character(s) in the novel which represents the one(s) satirized by the work. Meanwhile the indirect satire is revealed through a narrative in which the characters ridicule themselves through what they say or do (1986: 448).
The formal satire is again divided into two types, namely: Horatian satire, which is gentle, urbane, smiling and gives correction through gentle and sympathetic laughter, and Juvenalian satire which is biting, bitter and angry, showing the corruption and evil of human or institutions with contempt and moral indignation.
Satire is concerned with ethical reforms and attacks corrupt institutions or individual. However, a satire does not directly condemn the specific persona but more on the deeds or misbehaviors conducted by certain types of people. It also brings laughter to wrap the condemnation in order to bring social pressure on people who are still doing the corrupt vices while still protecting the satirists. A satire is very implicit and it also assumes that the reader can pick up the moral values within it. Another important characteristic of a satire was pointed out by Dr. Philip Mitchell, as retrieved from http:/www.dbu.edu/mitchell/satire1.htm that a satire is witty, ironic and often exaggerated, using extremes to show danger happening in the society due to the follies done by the people.
In essence, satire in this thesis is understood as a genre of literary work which uses laughter, comedy, and other aspects of accentuating the “human follies and foibles”. The satire is used with a purpose of criticizing and correcting certain issues by using laughter as a weapon to expose the follies of individual, institutions or human beings with the purpose to correct those follies without any direct attack on specific persons.
4. Theory on Consumption
any forms. However, other people can be involved and therefore having the right to interfere with how people spend their money. In The American Social System,
one example shown by Queen, Chamber and Winston is when someone “choose[s] to spend a portion of [his] funds on narcotics, [his] spouse and children would have a legitimate concern, as would the police” (1956: 183).
Related to the previous paragraph, the meaning of consumption itself, according to Queen et al, is “the amount [of money] people spend on things that are then used up” (1956:184). In their book, they explain that consumption and its results have become an important thing in the societies of the United States. Consumption, the amount of money people spend and the things they spend their money on, has become a way to distinguish one person from another as a symbol of status. Such condition is caused by the lack of devices that are used to show someone’s status in the society, such as titles (Your Highness, King, Princess, etc.) or castes which exist in other societies.
In relation to the use of consumption as a symbol of status, another term emerges. This term is “conspicuous consumption” which means “the using of goods and services for the demonstration of the owner’s superior economic and social status” (Queen et al, 1956: 190).
5. Theories on Morality
contemporary moralists” (1959:177). Fite, as quoted by Hill, gives us the understanding of morality as “the self-conscious living of a life” (1959:178).
Meanwhile, according to Poespoprodjo, morality is the quality in humans’ deeds by which human beings can judge something as being right or wrong, good or bad. Morality includes also the understanding on whether or not humans’ behavior or actions are good (1986:102).
C. Review on the United States of America in the 1980s
The 1980s was a time which brought several important events in American history. At that time the ‘yuppie’ was introduced to English referring to Young Urban Professionals which was well publicized as a new middle class among the upper economic strata. According to Peggy Whitley, as retrieved from
http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade80.html, college graduates at that time have more prestigious jobs at their late 20s and 30s, giving them more power to purchase trendy and luxurious items. Also retrieved from the same source, a 1980 study by UCLA and American Council on Education indicated that college freshmen were more interested in status, power and money than ever before, making Business Management the most popular major at that time. According to
the information that is retrieved from
marketplace. In the 1980s, economy was the major concern. Anything and everything related to money became an important issue to be discussed and noticed. The gap between the rich and the poor was also really wide, making social awareness a major issue. Such issue according to Henretta et al, was due to the economic and tax policies during Reagan’s administration or commonly known as ‘Reaganomics’. The money tightening in Reagan’s era also brought the American into ‘Reagan’s Recession’ in 1981-1982 which “threw some 10 million Americans out of work” (1999: 893). Therefore, in this decade great attention was given to those having wealth and status, causing Forbes’ list of 400 richest people more important than its list of 500 largest companies. Figures like Donald trump, who is a very wealthy and successful businessman in America, became an icon for the rise and fall of the rich, causing them to be both idolized and envied.
Still related to monetary issue, binge-buying and credit became a lifestyle and the slogan ‘Shop till you drop’ actually became the slogan of the society. Labels in this decade were everything. The labels were even considered as being more important than the products. In this decade the Young Urban Professionals or simply known as the yuppies were made as examples of greed and great consumerism.
homosexuals increased. Such hatred and oppositions against homosexuals were due to the opinion that “gay rights threatened America’s traditional values” (Henretta et al, 1999: 908). The hatred was intense, even though, according to a Yale study, the tabloid talk show genre provided media visibility for gays, bisexuals, transsexuals and transgender people to enter the mainstream culture and making gay community receives popular exposure.
Also retrieved from the previous online source, Crack Cocaine became an epidemic in urban areas, which made crime and drug trafficking reached a record level in most American cities. According to the data retrieved from http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/druguse/, through a survey performed by NHSDA (National Household Survey on Drug Abuse) it is known that the percentage of people between the ages of 12 and older in the 1980s, who have used drugs at least once in a lifetime, is 34.4%. This percentage is the highest among the results from 1979 – 1990. However, alcohol and drug awareness and education increased in this decade, bringing various campaigns and movements against alcohol and drug.
“image was everything in the 1980s and 1990s” which pointed to some highly influential people, “even to President Reagan” (1999: 909).
According to information retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980s
and pointed out by Whitley in http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade80.html, VHS video-cassette was increasingly popular, and in 1981 VCR sales rose up to 72% in 12 months. This widespread of VHS popularity made the rise of video rentals easy. TV innovations and trends included anti-family sitcoms, tabloid TV shows and infotainments. Talk shows on TV also became part of the people’s daily lives. This is supported also by the fact that “more Americans had television sets in 1980 than had modern plumbing”. Moreover, those television sets “were turned on an average seven times a day” (Blum et al, 1985: 910). However social issues related to health were also an important focus.
Blum, et al, it might be caused by the uncertainty and suspicions that the whites saw as the special privileges for blacks (1985: 904).
In the 80s, the phrase ‘American Dream’ which was presumably invoked by James Trunslow Adams in his book The American Dream has become a kind of lingua franca or idiom which is widely known not only in America but also around the globe. This phrase stands for the hopes of a better, richer and happier life for human beings which then highly associated with economic and social advancement of the people in almost every society in the world (cited from Cullen’s The America Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation.
2003). Such condition provokes people to make money as much as they can in order to achieve the other ‘dreams’ they have of a better future, which then produce social issues in the society.
D. Theoretical Framework
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The novel studied in this thesis is American Psycho which was written by Bret Easton Ellis who is, as retrieved from the website
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bret_Easton_Ellis, “considered to be one of the major Generation X authors and was regarded as one of the so-called literary Brat Pack”.
American Psycho was written in the first person narrative describing the life of a Young Urban Professional (YUP-pie) in Manhattan, New York who seems to have everything that could be mentioned as American Dreams but proclaim himself as a serial killer.
American Psycho which was published in 1991 has become an international bestseller and adapted into a film in 2002 under the same title with Christian Bale starring as Patrick Bateman, the psychopathic main character. This film adaptation was widely acknowledged as accentuating the satirical point of the novel.
controversies regarding its explicit sexual scenes and brutal violence which was said to be inspiring for serial killers all across America.
Generally, this novel tells the story of a twenty-six year old man named Patrick Bateman who seems to be living the widely known phrase, American Dream. He is handsome, rich, well educated, and intelligent and at such young age has secured a great job in Wall Street earning a lot of money as a complement to the huge fortune he has inherited. However, Bateman is actually not as good as the way he presents himself. Through his own narration he explains the violent murders he has done, proclaiming himself as a serial killer who enjoys killing as something exciting and even addictive.
In this novel Ellis describes in details the life of Patrick Bateman, his appearance, job, personal thoughts, as vividly as the obscene sexual scenes and murders, making this novel widely criticized especially by feminists who assume this novel as Ellis’ expression of his hate on women. This novel, though sometimes confusing and somewhat ambiguous in the end, is said by Katherine Dunn as a “masterful satire and a ferocious … piece of writing”, making readers wonder which elements that this novel satirizes and through which aspect.
B. Approach to the Study
(1956: 94), which means, in other words, literature is a representation of real life and society even though the members of the society have become objects of imitation through the literary works.
In their book, Reading and Writing about Literature, Mary Rohrberger and Samuel H. Woods, Jr. stated that, according to critics, “the only way to locate the real work is in reference to the civilization that produced it” and that “literature is not created in vacuum and embodies ideas significant to the culture produced it” (1971:9). According to this book, the basis of traditional historical approach to literature is usually some aspect of the sociocultural frame referred by the book, combined with an interest in the biographical history, knowledge of and interest in literary history. Many critics feel that this approach can lead to an ethical judgment related to the truth of a statement made by the author in his/her book.
According to Charles Busha and Stephen Harter in their book Research Methods in Librarianship: Techniques and Interpretations, as retrieved from
http://www.gslis.utexas.edu/~palmquis/courses/hiostorical.htm, there are six steps for conducting research by using Socio-Historical Approach:
1. The recognition of a historical problem or the identification of a need for certain historical knowledge.
2. The gathering of as much relevant information about the problem or topic as possible.
4. The rigorous collection and organization of evidence, and the verification of the authenticity and veracity of information and its sources.
5. The selection, organization, and analysis of the most pertinent collected evidence, and the drawing of conclusions.
6. The recording of conclusions in a meaningful narrative.
This approach is used so that the valid data on historical events and culture relevant to the time set of the novel can be obtained. Furthermore, it is used in order to know the relation between the main character’s characteristics to the historical events and culture of that time.
C. Method of the Study
The study of the novel was conducted through library research using related books, articles and internet resources. The library research was used to obtain knowledge on the events that took place in the 1980s (the time setting of the novel) and the studies previously done on the novel.
Next, Bateman’s characteristics and also the data used to find them were analyzed using theory of satire to see whether or not those characteristics satirize the society, or merely the result of the author’s creativity in creating something funny and witty without attempting to correct any follies.
One way to analyze them was by first listing and examining the socio-historical background of the time. Without knowing the background it is impossible for us to see the satire within a literary work. This is because a satire is more implicit and therefore it will only appear as a joke for those not knowing the background of the work or the satire.
Once the socio-historical background was known, the characteristics then examined further to see whether or not they attack the corrupt features of the time and use extremes to make the readers aware that there are important issues to deal with within the era.
If the characteristics do not criticize any form of follies or corruption of the society, even though they employ humor, they are unable to be classified as a satire toward the era of 1980s. Also, even if there are exaggerated parts of Bateman’s manner or characteristics, if they are not intended to point out the so-called evil side of the society then they are merely part of creativity without any satiric aspect whatsoever.
CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
A. The Characteristics of Patrick Bateman which Represent the 1980s Americans
Within all literary work, whether fictional or not, there will always be some elements that can be traced to the elements existing in the real world. Therefore, the characteristics of Patrick Bateman, the main character of Bret Easton Ellis’
American Psycho, if carefully examined, can also be traced to real life characteristics in the society of the time when it was written. These elements which have certain relevance to reality are essential parts in examining a satiric work. In this undergraduate thesis, the focus of the study is the characteristics of the main character which represent as well as satirize the 1980s Americans. Therefore, first and foremost the characteristics of the main character, Patrick Bateman, must be studied.
In this novel, which is written in the first-person perspective, the writer is easily drawn into Patrick Bateman’s life including his behaviors and characteristics. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the author chose Bateman along with his characteristics as the primary means to satirize the Americans of 1980s. Referring to the character and characterization theory by M.J. Murphy (1972:161-167), there are several characteristics of Bateman which can be seen through close
On the early pages of the novel, Patrick Bateman is described as a handsome and wealthy young man who works at Pierce & Pierce, or more popularly known as P & P, a well-known company in Wall Street. “Well, I work on Wall Street. At Pierce & Pierce.” (p. 171). However, he actually does not work because he needs the job and the money, but only because he wants to fit in to the society around him which is busy with the act of pursuing more money and being wealthy. This is able to be done by Bateman since he is already wealthy by inheritance.
“You practically own that damn company,” she moans. “What work? What work do you do? I don’t understand” (p. 221).
“Patrick … if you’re so uptight about work, why don’t you just quit? You don’t have to work.”
“Because,” I say, staring directly at her, “I … want … to … fit … in … Just look at it as, well, a new approach in business,” I say (pp. 236-238). He is also clever, and well educated, which is seen from the way his friends ask about what they want to know to him, and from his own explanation about issues not commonly known by most people.
“Arcadia was an ancient region in Peloponnesus, Greece, which was founded in 370 B.C., and it was completely surrounded by mountains, its chief city was … Megalopolis, which was also the center of political activity and the capital of the Arcadian confederacy…” I’m amused that I’ve retained this knowledge (pp. 263-264).
Other people also admit his wide knowledge on things that not everybody knows.
“Exactly,” Anne says, impressed. “Oh Courtney, where did you find Patrick? He’s so knowledgeable about things. …” (p. 95)
Council on Education as pointed out by Peggy Whitley in
http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade80.html, Business Management was the most popular major. This is represented by Bateman who is said as a Harvard Business School graduate. The popularity of Business Management major is most reasonably due to the rise of the “new middle class” among the upper economic strata, which is the Young Urban Professionals or most commonly known as the
yuppies. College freshmen at that time were more attracted to status, power and money, and who most probably dream of becoming a yuppie themselves. All of these characteristics of the 80s society is represented by Bateman through his characteristics as a wealthy and well-educated yuppie.
On the early sentences of the novel, Bateman said in his narration, “… and the driver, black, not American, does so” (p. 3). This description gives us a hint that Bateman is actually a racist due to his choice of word, the word ‘black’. If Bateman is not a racist, he could use the phrase ‘an African’ since the word ‘black’ holds a negative meaning. On the following pages, his racism comes up numerous times through the words he uses to describe people who are neither white nor American.
In the 80s, even though racism has come to ease, the society still has some racism problems that needed attention. At that time the issue of racism has even brought to children’s books. According to an article published in New York Times on January 2, 1981 by Herbert Mitgang, as retrieved from
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E1D8163BF931A35752C0A
norm”. Books at that time, according to Mitgang, often used the wrong approach by saying “the black person is finally accepted by the whites”. This sort of racism which still has its root in the society is represented by Bateman’s racist remarks toward African-Americans.
From his own narration, Bateman can be characterized as a materialistic person. This is seen through the way he always identifies people by what they wear, have or use. Almost in every single page of the book, readers can find Bateman describing his own or other people’s physical appearance including the fabrics and manufacturers (brands) without any or only few descriptions on the persons’ personality.
I’m wearing a lamb’s wool topcoat, a wool jacket with wool flannel trousers, a cotton shirt, a cashmere V-neck sweater and a silk tie, all from Armani. Evelyn’s wearing a cotton blouse by Dolce & Gabbana, suede shoes by Yves Saint Laurent, a stenciled calf skirt by Adrienne Landau with a suede belt by Jill Stuart, Calvin Klein tights, Venetian-glass earrings by Frances Patiky stein (p. 143).
Bateman is a person who is very much concerned on the things he has and extremely eager to show them to his friends. One example of this is when he shows his new name card to his friends, expecting them to admire the card and therefore admire him even more. However, the outcome of his act is quite the opposite. His name card is in fact nothing special compared to his friends’, and this is shocking and infuriating for him, making him feels bitter but unable to express it around his friends. One colleague of his even says, “It is very cool Bateman …but that’s nothing … look at this”, which brings “a spasm of jealousy courses through [him] when [he] notice[s] the elegance of the color and the classy type. Bateman is extremely upset because of what happens and he “suddenly raise[s] a fist as if to strike out at Craig and scream[s]” (pp. 44-46).
Bateman is such a show-off that he even boasts about what he has to the readers by writing almost one whole chapter of what he has in his house.
In the early light of a May dawn this is what the living room of my apartment looks like: Over the white marble and granite gas-log fireplace hangs an original David Onica. It’s a six-foot-by-four-foot portrait of a naked woman, mostly done in muted grays and olives, sitting on a chaise longue watching MTV… A Toshiba VCR sits in a glass case beneath the TV set; it’s a super-high-band Beta unit and has built-in editing function including a character generator with eight-page memory, a high-band record-and playback, and three-week, eight-event timer … (pp. 24-25).
your status. However, when one of his colleagues states that he owns a tanning bed at home, Bateman becomes furious, proclaiming that it is a crazy thing as to own a tanning bed at home. This scene shows that Bateman hates seeing other people having something more than what he has.
Some guy who looks exactly like Christopher Lauder comes over to the table and says, patting me on the shoulder, “Hey Hamilton, nice tan, before walking into the men’s room. …
“Oh gosh, I hope I’m not blushin’.”
“Actually, where do you go Bateman? … For a tan.”
“Read my lips … a tanning salon,” then irritably, “like everyone else.” “I have,” Van Patten says, pausing for a maximum impact, “a tanning bed at … home,”
“Oh bullshit … that is fucking outrageous … you’re crazy,” I mutter. “I just think that’s crazy about the tanning bed,” I tell Van Patten, though secretly I think it would be a hip luxury except I really have no room for one in my apartment (pp. 48-49).
Still related to materialistic side, Bateman idolizes Donald Trump very much and even gets obsessed to him as what Evelyn, his girlfriend says.
Then I ask, suspiciously, “Why wasn’t Donald Trump invited to your party?”
Not Donald Trump again,” Evelyn moans. “Oh god. Is that why you were acting like such a buffoon? This obsession has got to end!” (p. 194)
This materialistic side of Bateman is a representation of the 80s society at that time which is in the pursuit of getting richer and remains rich. The society at that time was a society which made binge buying and credit as a way of life. This is also supported by the president of the time, Ronald Reagan who said in a quotation published in New York Times, as retrieved from
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900E4D91439F933A25754C0A
A quite obvious characteristic of Bateman is how narcissistic he is. His narcissism can be seen when Bateman is going to shake the hand of a person and he “catch[es] a glimpse of [his] reflection on the surface of the table”. He instantly admires his skin which “seems darker because of the candlelight” and “how good the haircut [he] got at Gio’s last Wednesday looks” (pp. 11-12).
Other evidence is his determination to always make his physical beauty noticed, both by his girlfriend when they are going to have sex and by other people including his skin technician. When he is trying to have sex with his girlfriend, he pulls up his Armani shirt and “place her hand on [his] torso, wanting her to feel how rock-hard, how halved [his] stomach is”. He even is grateful that the room is light not so he can admire his girlfriend’s beauty as what people mostly do, but so that “she can see how bronzed and defined [his] abdomen has become” (p. 23).
When he is going to have a facial, he purposefully not wearing a smock he is supposed to wear only to let the technician “check [his] body out, notice [his chest, see how f***ing buff [his] abdominals have gotten” (p. 114).
Related closely to narcissism, Bateman is obsessed to his physical appearance. He always does his maximum effort to be able to look his best, either by working out heavily at Xclusive, his gym, or by using number one products. He even spends almost three-pages-long to describe the way he maintains his amazing physical appearance.
keep it on and apply a shaving cream over it—preferably with a brush, which softens the beard as it lifts the whiskers—which I’ve found makes removing the hair easier (p.27).
The narcissistic side of Bateman is related to a study which the 67 years old Heinz Kohut is concentrating on, as published on July 10, 1983 in the New York Times
retrieved from the website
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E00E2DF1039F93
3A05755C0A967948260. Heinz Kohut, 67 years of age, is “a respected analyst, a veteran teacher of Freudian theory at the Institute for Psychoanalysis in Chicago and a past president of the pre-eminent American Psychoanalytic Association (A.P.A.)”. Kohut was concentrating on the narcissist who is a “person whose self-love has gone awry”. In the article it is explained that narcissism is “a vital dimension of mental health” in which the patient feels “an insatiable hunger of admiration”. Narcissism, according to Arnold H. Modell who trained psychoanalysts at Boston Psychiatric Institute, is today’s “paradigmatic complaint”. Such article proves that Bateman’s narcissism is a representation of a neurotic problem which was the “complaint” of that time.
(p. 194). He also often scores some coke [cocaine] with his colleagues at famous pubs.
I did a line of coke with Herbert Gittes at Goldcard and before McDermott hailed this cab to head for Nell’s I took a Halcion to get rid of the edge from the cocaine, but it hasn’t sunk in yet (p. 249).
Other than scoring cocaine, he is also addicted to other medications as a way for him to overcome his anxiety. When he experiences an anxiety attack, he is immediately “searching [his] pockets for Valium, Xanax, a leftover Halcion” and when he found some Nuprin he “pop[s] all three into [his] mouth and swallow[s] them down with a Diet Pepsi” (p. 148).
Bateman’s addiction to drugs is an act of representing the society which is carefully shown by Ellis. The society of the 80s was addicted to drugs. An article published by New York Times in January 23, 1981, retrieved from
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06EFDA153BF930A15752C0
A967948260, even mentioned that not only the mafia was to blame for drug selling, but also people who were supposedly working to safe lives in the Veterans Administration Hospital in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx. This is as stated on the headline of the news,
“
Seven employees including two security officers have been arrested on charges of selling cocaine to employees and patients”. Numbers of surveys have also been performed by various parties to figure the trends of illicit drug usage in the United States. According to the data from National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, as retrieved fromreporting illicit drug usage. As many as 34.4 % of the population who are 12 years old or older and who are living in households reported as have been using illicit drugs from any types at least once in their lifetime. The complete data is presented on the appendices page of the thesis.
Bateman’s other signs of hypocrisy has been stated previously by the fact that he tells his colleagues about how crazy and outrageous it is to have a personal tanning bed at home, while in fact he secretly would love to have one considering how hip and luxurious it would be. He even tells his secretary to find him a tanning bed. “Jean. Listen, keep your eyes open for a tanning bed, okay?” (p. 66)
On his conversation over dinner in his girlfriend’s house, he mentions that America “… need[s] to provide training and jobs for the unemployed as well as protect existing American jobs from unfair foreign imports” whereas in reality Bateman does not care about the jobless and bums who are starving on the streets. He even hates them and thinks that those people only make his wonderful town dirty. He confesses to a female friend of his that he “beat[s] up a girl today who was asking people on the street for money … she was young and seemed frightened and had a sign that explained she was lost in New York and had a child, though [he] didn’t see it … and then? [he] beat[s] the living shit out of her” (p. 213).
people who really work to earn some money. Afterwards, he pulls out his knife and “being very careful not to kill him, push[es] maybe half an inch of the blade into his right eye, flicking the handle up, instantly popping the retina”. After doing this he still finds the time to kneel down and harasses the man by throwing a quarter to him and tell him to “go buy some gum, you crazy f***ing nigger” (pp. 130-132).
On the previous analysis, it has been shown that Bateman is actually a racist by the way he calls the African-Americans ‘black’ and ‘nigger’. However, when one of his colleagues is telling a racist joke about an African-American prostitute Bateman goes upset and says that what his friends are doing is an act of racism. Again, such act shows that Bateman is a hypocrite.
“Because the last time I f***ed a nigger she stole my wallet.” He laughs immediately … Van Patten gives him high-five. Even Price laughs. “Oh Christ,” I say. “That’s awful … It’s not funny … it’s racist” (p. 38) Such hypocrisy of Patrick Bateman which is shown by Ellis in this novel is a representation of the society at the time which is also hypocrite though not exactly in the same way as Patrick Bateman. As retrieved from
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DE3D91439F933A15754C0A
protect her own finances from taxation, Governor Ray called her a “hypocrite”. This fact is represented, though not in the exact matter, by Bateman who has various level of hypocrisy as explained previously.
When talking about sexuality, which is a very common and reoccurring topic in this novel, Patrick Bateman is a person who can be categorized as someone without what-so-called as normal sexual behavior. The term normal here refers to the sexual activity between one man and one woman between whom there is a sense of attraction. Patrick Bateman can be said as not normal in his sexual activity, due to his masochism where he is sexually aroused over violent scenes. An evidence of this is when he personally says that he likes to “masturbate over the scene where the woman is getting drilled to death by a power-drill” (p. 69) in a movie called Body Double that he usually rents.
Bateman’s other rather ‘abnormal’ sexual behavior is related to his preference in having a three-way sexual act involving two women and one man. He even imagined whether his girlfriend would fulfill his imagination of her having a sexual activity with another woman. He wonders “if Evelyn would sleep with another woman if [he] brought one over to her brownstone and, if [he] insisted, whether they’d let [him] watch the two of them get it on” and even thinking of forcing her with a gun (p. 120).
fulfilled sexually through watching those women suffered and injured. “We’re not through yet …” he says to the women she had sex with and thinking that he “will impatiently lead them to the door … bleeding but well paid” (p. 176).
Another proof of his unusual sex behavior is when he meets someone who knows a girl in Aspen whom he “raped with a can of hairspray last Christmas when [he] was skiing there over the holidays” (p. 94). Because of this unusual behavior, Bateman has to face “some bogus rape charges” (p. 200). However, nothing further is told most likely because there are no follow-ups on that case.
Such ‘abnormal’ sexual behavior seems to mirror the 80s where even a little child who was only 10 years old knew more details about the meaning of a certain crude sexual word which Marie Winn, a book author who wrote an article in New York Times published in May 8, 1983, retrieved from
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C06E6D81238F93
BA35756C0A965948260, does not know until five years before she wrote the article.
Bateman is very much addicted to violence that he even almost always fantasizes of killing or at least hurting and making people injured, and this fantasy or desire is not limited to certain people only. Bateman has fantasized and even intended to kill his colleagues more than one time, though toward different people, without any clear reason. On one occasion he feels “tempted to gut McDermott with it [a knife] right here in the entranceway, maybe slice[s] his face open, sever[es] his spine” (p. 52).
A woman whom he is going to date also almost becomes his ‘prey’, though he finally “come[s] to the conclusion that Patricia is safe tonight” and that he is “not going to get any pleasure watching her bleed” (p. 76).
His desire of torturing people and watching them injured severely is not limited to those people who are close to him but includes a couple he has dinner with, a complete stranger he walks by and also a bum (as stated in the previous paragraph, p.130-132). On a dinner with his girlfriend and another married couple, he is thinking of breaking into their house and “with an ax chopped them to pieces”. He is even thinking of finding a way “to get to Exeter where [he] would pour a bottle of acid all over their son’s slanty-eyed zipperhead face” (p. 95).
is already dead he even “[shot] him with a silencer twice in the face” (pp. 164-166).
He admits his psychosis an addiction to murder and violence through his sweet talk to his acquaintance’s baby.
… and I’m shaking my head, talking in a high-pitched baby voice, squeezing her chin, waving the card in front of her face, cooing, “Yes I’m a total psychotic murderer, oh yes I am, I like to kill people, oh yes I do, honey, little sweetie pie, yes I do…” (p. 221)
This addiction to violence and serial killers is in a certain way a representation of the society at that time where an ex-nurse’s aide, Donald Harvey, 35 years old, pleaded guilty to charges of murdering 24 people in the last four years, most of them elderly patients in his care at Daniel Drake Memorial Hospital. He has also admitted to 30 other killings, usually by poison, since the early 1970's. This information obtained through an article in New York Times published on August 19, 1987, is, in a way, represented by Bateman through his act of killing the innocents and the enjoyment he receives from being a serial killer.
In the 1980s and even in the present days, people often tend to kill other people. They may not literally take the lives of other people, but by being ignorant towards other people, by neglecting what other people need and what they can do for others, people have killed humanity. Humanity is the core of human beings as social creatures. Therefore, by being ignorant, by not having the humanity they are supposed to have, people can be said as killing their fellow beings.
young man, which is seen from his favorite TV program. Bateman is addicted to TV shows, especially The Patty Winters Show. Bateman usually never misses a single show. If he cannot see one, he would record it to be seen later. The topics on the show are often used as the topic of his daily conversation with his colleagues.
Greg McBride walks in and stops by my chair. “Did you watch The Winters Show this morning? Riot. Total Riot”, and we give each other high-five before he takes a seat between Dibble and Lloyd (p. 111).
…The Patty Winters Show I watched this morning comes back to me. The topic was Big Breasts and there was a woman on it who had a breast reduction since she thought her tits were too big—the dumb b***h. I immediately called McDermott who was also watching it and we both ridiculed the woman through the rest of the segment.” (p. 68) Bateman confesses this addiction on a conversation he has with his secretary, Jean. “Did you see The Patty Winters Show this morning? … On autism?” “No.” she smiles as if somehow charmed by my addiction to The Patty Winters Show (p. 64).
In the 80s TV talk shows were highly popular, with The Oprah Winfrey Show hit the taboos and provided the much needed media attention towards issues which were once considered as taboo. Such popularity of TV talk shows is represented by Bateman through his own addiction to the fictional Patty Winters Show.
shown through the way he reacts toward his colleague who falls in love with him. He threatens his colleague who is in love with him by saying that he “will f***ing
gut [him], rip [his] f***ing stomach open and cram [his] intestines down [his] f***ing faggot throat until [he] choke on them” (p. 295).
Such behavior of Bateman who hates homosexuals by calling them with names and even threatens to kill one of them is also a representation of the 1980s Americans who were discriminative towards homosexuals. One proof of such event is the discharge of Staff Sgt. Harold Bryant after confessing that he is a homosexual. In the New York Times article published in January 18, 1981, Sergeant Bryant’s attorney stated that they would find a way to get a reinstatement.
Seen from the characteristics, Patrick Bateman can be categorized as a round and dynamic character, having complex characteristics and ideas whose actions are often influenced by his and other people’s actions and experiences. Such categorization is obtained through the characterization as has been previously discussed.
B. The aspects of the 80s Americans satirized through the characteristics of Patrick Bateman
1. Consumption
work. In relation to the use of consumption as symbol of status, the yuppies at that time were considered as the example of high consumption communities by their habit of driving luxurious cars, dining at fancy, expensive restaurants and buying expensive products. These were done to show that they were wealthy and capable of purchasing expensive products as a sign of their high status in the society. In the 80s labels of certain designers or manufacturers were regarded as highly important for the Americans, especially for those of the elite.
Patrick Bateman is used by Ellis as a means to satirize the economic issues of the society at that time, especially the ones related to consumption. This can be seen through the fact that Bateman is characterized as a rich Young Urban Professional who graduated from the highly reputable Harvard Business School and works at a hip firm on Wall Street. As retrieved from
http://kclibrary.nhmccd.edu/decade80.html written by Peggy Whitley, a 1980 study by UCLA and American Council on Education indicated that college freshmen were more interested in status, power and money than ever before, making Business Management the most popular major at the time.
he spends his time visiting night clubs with his colleagues, eating at trendy and luxurious restaurants, working out at an exclusive gymnasium named (accordingly) Xclusive, and works hard to get the perfect skin tone through regular visits to tanning salons.
Referring to A Handbook to Literature by Holman and Harmon such descriptions can be regarded as a satire towards the yuppie, that were said as being rich and professional in career. This is related to the fact that the descriptions exaggerate the actual activities of the yuppies while also mixing it with witty expressions referring to the habit of the 80s Americans and evoking a dry and silent laughter from the readers. As retrieved from
http://kclibrary.nhmcc.edu/decade80.html written by Whitley, the 1980s Americans, especially the college freshmen, were people who “were more interested in status, power, and money than at any time during the past 15 years”. For that reason, the exaggerated and witty descriptions of the life of the yuppies, which has become their ‘dream’, evoke a certain self-reflection effect towards the society whose dream is to be wealthy and smart professionals.
Another satire is shown by Bateman’s comment that he works merely because he “wants to fit in”. This shows that at that time people who want to fit in must have a career in Wall Street and professionally trendy. It is a satire since it ridicules the people’s attitude of wanting to be someone they are not in order to “fit in” to the fast-changing community around them.
the characteristics of Bateman, along with his narration on people, Ellis criticizes the culture of high consumption or known also as conspicuous consumption. Conspicuous consumption is the use of goods and services for the demonstration of the owner’s superior economic and social status (Blum et al, 1956: 190). As retrieved from http://www.ornl.gov/info/swords/eighties.html, at that time binge buying and the slogan ‘Shop till you drop’ were the trend of the society where labels or brands of products were regarded as everything. The brand was often considered more important than the quality of the product and often even more than the people wearing or using them.
Ellis uses Bateman as a means to satirize the society by characterizing Bateman as someone who always describes what people wear, emphasizing on the brands and luxurious materials. However, even though these outfits seem extravagant and fashionable, if seen carefully, the combination of the outfits is actually ridiculous if actually worn by an actual living person.
I’m wearing a two button single-breasted chalk-striped wool-flannel suit, a multicolored candy-striped cotton shirt and a silk pocket square, all by Patrick Aubert, a polka-dot silk tie by Bill Blass and clear prescription eyeglasses with frames by Lafont Paris (p. 87).
Referring to another definition of satire by Abrams, who says that satire is using “laughter as a weapon” to weaken a certain subject by “making it ridiculous”, here Ellis uses laughter as a means to satirize the society which paid high concern on the so-called hip and expensive brands and regarded them as highly important that one can misidentify other people but must correctly identify high-class designers’ outfits.
“And another thing … it’s not Garrick Anderson either. The suit is by
Armani! Giorgio Armani … and you thought it was Henry Stuart” I slap her hard across the face and hiss the words “Dumb B***h” (p. 247) People of that time were considered as being the generation of status seekers where they look for their status in the society by consuming the number one products and trying to be number one in everything including in the business card they have. This fact is also satirized by Ellis through a scene where Bateman and his colleagues were showing-off each other’s business cards.
Another way that Ellis uses to satirize the society is the exaggerated scene where Bateman takes a urinal cake from a restaurant, covers it with chocolate and places it in a Godiva chocolate box. He then gives the chocolate to her girlfriend on a supposedly romantic dinner. This girl, however, tries to show no signs of disgust but the words “It’s so … minty”. She also forces herself to eat the chocolate covered urinal cake simply because it comes in the trendy Godiva box which signals high quality number one product (pp. 336-337).
society also worshipped money along with the luxurious things following it as the most important things.
The 1980s were also the years of the ‘Me! Generation’. This generation is the one that thinks only about the “Me, Myself and I” aspects. The people of this generation did not care about what other people are experiencing, as long as they have what they need and what they looked for. The characteristics of Bateman are used by Ellis to criticize and satirize the generation through his obsession in looking his best, either by working out heavily or by having facials and choosing only the best products that can make him more gorgeous and irresistible. Again, who you are is determined by what you wear, where you go, and what you have. Therefore dining out for Bateman and his colleagues is quite a problem since they have to be seen in the hippest and most expensive places to show people that they are wealthy and hip. The satire of this scene is seen primarily through the humor caused by the difficulty that Bateman and his colleagues are having simply in deciding where to eat and who can make the reservation there. They even need to constantly refer to a guiding book on finest restaurants called Zagat.
illegal. Another example is by spending their money on buying non-essential expensive products; their personal relationships with one another is worsened. Such statement is taken since by buying non-essential and expensive products in order to fit in with the community, people have also begun to prioritize themselves, what they have and how they appear in the society rather than their intra-relationships with one another.
2. Morality
Seen from the moral side, Ellis’ choice of characterizing Bateman as an alcoholic and drug user is also something that is done with a purpose. The 1980s were the time when people had become more aware of the danger of drug abuse and made various campaigns to stop and prevent further drug abuse. However, people are still using drugs even consuming more than before making drug abuse and trafficking reach record level in most cities. This fact is also satirized by Ellis through Bateman’s narration that people can score cocaine anywhere even and especially in public places. Bateman’s hypocritical denial of using cocaine is also a satire to criticize the people of that time who were hypocritical, stating that they are against drugs but still using them and make a record level in drug abuse.
