American Psycho: Obsession comes from the inability

To be successful and available members of society, we must always be evolving with its changes. But once we grow negligent towards other aspects of our lives, and focus on one only, negative effects inevitably fol beginning. Obsession renders us dysfunctional citizens due to our inability to assert balance in our lives, and to accept understand ourselves as we argon. In the novel, American Psycho, by Bret Gaston Ellis, Patrick Bateman, a Manhattan socialite, Is a caricature by which the horrors of coercion are demonstrated.These fixations demonstrate that obsession comes from the inability to accept oneself. In the spare-time activity paragraphs, we support our argument by considering the fixations of Bateman with personal beauty, success and jealousy, and murder and gore. Batsmans fixation with physical beauty are clearly seen when he Is engaged in bragging and putting his wealth on display for the listening and later, for emphasis, cleansing with expensive products. Bateman spends his days In Indulgence of wealth he snorts cocaine, goes to clubs, and feeds his addiction to expensive labels. mystify the ice-pack mask off and character a deep-pore cleanser diligence, then an herb-mint facial masque I use the Bright tooth polisher and next the Interplay tooth polisher In the shower I use first a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey- almond body scrub L always use an aftershave 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 specific or so 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, such as using alcohol, which dries your face out, and makes you look older. This obsession Is born(p) from his Insecurity roughly his physic al attractiveness. Throughout the book, Bateman is portrayed as being anxious close to his looks, asking, WOWS my hair? (232) on numerous make. When he is uncomfortable in a social situation titmouse an ex-girlfriend, Pee immediately becomes self-conscious, What? I panic, immediately touching my hair. Too much mousse? (236). Later in the book, he expresses his concerns somewhat becoming addicted to exercise. When confronted, he states, You can always be thinner, look better. (372) This obsession with his physical appearance clearly derived from his inability to accept himself physically. Batsmans dissatisfaction with his career is apparent when he expresses his frustration about being a useless member of the Pierce & Pierce firm which his father rustically owns.This dissatisfaction cultivates into an obsessive Jealousy of Paul Hello, Owen, I say, admiring the way hes styled and slicked back his hair, with a part so even and sourish 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 over the possibilities being Ten -X. (1 1 1) From the introduction of Paul Owen in the novel 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 liberty chit over and mention 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 talk about Work I abhor it. (237). As Batsmans fixation with Paul Owen and his success grows, he is less and less able to accept himself, and his flunk career until he is able to murder Owen ND rid himself of his obsession.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 passim the novel when he murders, rapes, and tortures several people for little to no reason. He is incapable of accepting and lintel with his pang and thus becomes fixated on inflicting it upon others. My upset is constant and sharp and I do not promise for a better world for anyone, in act I want my torture to be inflicted on others.I want no one to escape, but even after admitting, I gain no deeper fellowship of myself (201) Bateman expresses sorrow over not being able to understand himself, or to cope with and accept the pain of psychopaths. This lack 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 gor e.Patrick Batsmans insecurities and the obsessions derived from them are reflective 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 resonate always with mankind all of which support the argument that obsession originates from the lack of acceptance and understanding of oneself.