?I. Introduction   II. Bret Easton Ellis Biography    A. Childhood and family     B. Adulthood     C. Writing/Professional Career     D. Influences III. Summary of American Psycho      A. Manhattan, New York      B. 1980's Upper-Class Society     C. Major Characters and Major Conflict     E. Themes and Symbolism      F. Ellis's Purpose for Writing IV. Societal and Historical Implications in American Psycho      A. Cold War and the Communist Threat     B. New Technological and health innovations      C. The Wall Street Boom of the 1980s      E. Socio-Economic Dynamics         1. Consumerist Society         2. Materialism/wealth/greed         3. New York V. Critical Analysis of American Psycho     A. Thematic analysis     B. Symbolic analysis     C. Effectiveness in style     D. literary appeal VI. Literary Importance of American Psycho     A. Satirical importance, etc     B. Moral decay and disillusionment     C. American literary canon VII. Conclusion Introduction Bret Easton Ellis is a modern, transgressive period author, having most of his works spread from the late 1980s to the mid 2000s. Probably his best and most critically acclaimed work would be that of American Psycho. American Psycho, the story of a wealthy, young yet demented financier in 1980s Manhattan, by Bret Easton Ellis, author of multiple works with similar themes of materialism and satirical fiction, attempts to present an acquisitive lifestyle while also conveying the harsh reality of a consumerist society during the Wall Street boom of the 1980s. During this crucial period, vital to a consumerist society, American Psycho outlines this harsh reality and draws attention to man’s inability to escape from such a society, blinded by its many ills and tensions. Biography Bret Easton Ellis was born on March 7, 1964. He was raised in Sherman Oaks, California and is the oldest brother of two siblings. He was raised by both of his parents. His father was a wealthy property developer who was also an abusive alcoholic, which influenced Ellis’s writing as well. Ellis’s childhood was quite privileged; he attended high school at Buckley in the L.A. Valley, which housed wealthy children of film industry parents.  Ellis's parents separated around the time he graduated from high-school, in 1982. By that time, Ellis had already written three novels. Ellis went on to attend Bennington College, where he studied music but then switched to writing. It was here that he met Joe McGinnis and was put onto a literary agent. He published Less Than Zero, his first novel, while still in college in 1985. Less Than Zero did extremely well and received a great amount of appraisal from critics (Biography: Bret Easton Ellis, para.2). It was made into a film two years later. He then moved to New York around this time to release his second novel, Rules Of Attraction, which was criticized as being too autobiographical. Such criticism caused this novel never to receive the attention that his other novels have. While in New York, Ellis started to spend time hanging out with stock-brokers in preparation for American Psycho. However, his publisher, Simon & Schuster, refused to publish this book when it came time for publication because of the extremely graphic and violent content of his previous two books (Biography: Bret Easton Ellis, para.3). It was instead taken on by Vintage. American Psycho was heavily criticized. Ellis received several death threats because of this book. In spite of all the negative attention, American Psycho sold excellently. It was later made into a movie released in 2000 and Christian Bale portrayed the demented, main character Bateman in the film. Ellis's father died in 1992. Instead of finishing his fourth novel, Glamorama, in 1993 as promised, he put together a collection of previous short stories and published them as The Informers. Ellis spent eight years working on Glamorama, released in 1998. It was less controversial than American Psycho, and is in some respects regarded as his best work. Throughout his life, Ellis has received much influence from many sources, which he has incorporated into his writing. His father, an abusive alcoholic, served as a great influence in his writing. Also, the separation of his parents and a very privileged childhood has also contributed to his works. Living in New York City and spending great deals of time with stock market brokers has also provided a lot of inspiration and background throughout his multiple works. Ernest Hemingway and Don DeLillo have also served as a great inspiration to Ellis (Author Biography, para.1). Finally, movies and rock music have had a great influence on Ellis and his writings. Summary of American Psycho The story of American Psycho takes place in Manhattan, New York. This is not a fictional place and is a real place. It is described similarly to p