“Bateman ‘exists’ in a world defined through a hierarchy of labels, which work as definitions of identity and status. They consume the consumer by their desirability, leaving nothing, the attempted satisfaction of pleasure leaving only absence and meaninglessness” By purchasing items with a high sign-exchange value, Bateman feels as though he is buying social status, he has a compulsion to be above others through his sign-exchange value, he explains “All it comes down to is this: I feel like shit but look great.” Here Bateman is content with his lack of ego, insisting that although he may not feel great, he looks good enough for that not to matter, as his social status succeeds all else. We rarely see examples of Bateman using his commodities, when he is confronted by a homeless man asking “money please help mister…” to which Bateman proceeds to withdraw three hundred dollars “for no particular reason”, he lacks any sympathy for the homeless man, by withdrawing more money Bateman is refuelling his social status above this homeless man because he can. This consumerist nature and the need to exceed the …show more content…
Ellis goes as far as presenting strong similarities between the two in his novel, with the dark humour seen throughout American Psycho Bateman quotes Ed Gein as he explains what he thinks when he sees a pretty girl walking down the street, firstly “one part of me wants to take her out and talk to her…” and the second part