“…there is an idea of a Patrick Bateman, some kind of abstraction, but there is no real me, only an entity, something illusory, and though I can hide my cold gaze and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable: I simply am not there. It is hard for me to make sense on any given level. Myself is fabricated, an aberration. I am a noncontingent human being. My personality is sketchy and unformed, my heartlessness goes deep and is persistent. My conscience, my pity, my hopes disappeared a long time ago (probably at Harvard) if they ever did exist. There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed. I still, though, hold on to one single bleak truth: no one is safe, nothing is redeemed. Yet I am blameless. Each model of human behavior must be assumed to have some validity. Is evil something you are? Or is it something you do? My pain is constant and sharp and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this—and I have countless times, in just about every act I’ve committed—and coming face-to-face with these truths, there is no catharsis. I gain no deeper knowledge about myself, no new understanding can be extracted from my telling. There has been no reason for me to tell you any of this. This confession has meant nothing….”
Quote by Bret Easton Ellis
Work
American Psycho is a controversial novel that delves into the mind of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy and seemingly successful young man who is also a serial killer. The narrative is told from Bateman's perspective, offering a chilling and often surreal glimpse into his life, his relationships, and his descent into madness. The novel is known for its graphic violence, satirical commentary on the materialism and emptiness of the 1980s, and its unconventional narrative style. more
Author
American novelist known for his profound insights into modern urban life and sharp criticism. His works, including 'Less Than Zero' and 'The Rules of Attraction', are renowned for their unique narrative style and sharp social observations. more
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“i am a noncontingent human being”