Similarities Between American Psycho And The Hunger Games

Power's corrupting nature has been a constant theme in literature, with authors exploring how individuals can become consumed by their thirst for power, leading to moral degradation. The portrayal of the corrupting effect of power in two popular novels, The American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, will be compared and contrasted in this essay. Bret Easton Ellis' work “American Psycho” and Suzanne Collins' novel “The Hunger Games” both portray the corrupting nature of power in their respective civilizations, where the quest of power pushes individuals to perform horrific deeds, ultimately leading to their collapse. The corrupting nature of power is brought up through; Patrick Bateman’s acts and his similarities

His desire for dominance drives him to conduct heinous acts of violence, such as murder and torture. As he sinks deeper into his own craziness, his thirst for power consumes him, causing him to lose contact with reality and ultimately lead to his demise. According to Bateman, "I had all the characteristics of a human being—flesh, blood, skin, hair—but my depersonalization was so intense, had gone so deep, that my normal ability to feel compassion had been eradicated" (Ellis, 1991, p. 24). Similarly, President Snow, the major antagonist in The Hunger Games, is a corrupt leader who retains power by fear and oppression. He organizes the yearly Hunger Games, in which children from several districts are forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of Capitol people. Snow's passion with power drives him to commit heinous acts of violence in order to keep his power at any cost. As he tells Katniss Everdeen, "You know, my dear, it's entirely within my power to destroy you" (Collins, 2008, p.

He attends extravagant parties, snorts cocaine, and conducts heinous acts of violence against individuals he thinks to be weaker than him. Bateman's thirst for power drives him to lose touch with reality and engage in more violent behavior. "I just want to have a meaningful relationship with someone special," he tells one of his victims. Someone I can relate to. "Someone with whom I can share my life" (Ellis, 1991, p. 326). However, The Capitol maintains power over the oppressed districts in The Hunger Games by holding annual Hunger Games in which children are forced to fight to the death. The Games aim to remind the districts of their weakness in the face of the Capitol's rule. The ruling elite uses its influence to keep control over the masses by manipulating and abusing them. According to Katniss, "the Capitol's control is like a virus, infecting everything with its poison" (Collins, 2008, p.