Language

Style of language

The language used in Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho is informal and conversational. The novel’s language is notorious for its explicit and graphic descriptions of violence, murder, and violent sexual acts. These scenes are usually depicted in gruesome detail: 

Blood starts to slowly pour out of the sides of his mouth shortly after the first chop, and when I pull the ax out — almost yanking Owen out of the chair by his head — and strike him again in the face, splitting it open, his arms flailing at nothing, blood sprays out in twin brownish geysers, staining my raincoat. This is accompanied by a horrible momentary hissing noise actually coming from the wounds in Paul’s skull, places where bone and flesh no longer connect, and this is followed by a rude farting noise caused by a section of his brain, which due to pressure forces itself out, pink and glistening, through the wounds in his face. (Ch 27 Paul Owen, 38%)

This explicit language serves to shock and disturb the reader, reinforcing the dark and disturbing nature of the story. The descriptions used in these scenes are often very detailed and engage all senses in order to enhance the horrifying nature of Patrick’s murders and to have a strong emotional impact ...