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The Rules of Attraction Vintage Contemporaries: A Literary Exploration of Addiction, Desire, and Excess

Nikolai Gogol

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Published in The Rules Of Attraction (Vintage Contemporaries)

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Bret Easton Ellis's The Rules of Attraction is a 1987 novel that follows the lives of three college students involved in a destructive love triangle. The novel is known for its dark humor, nihilistic themes, and exploration of addiction, desire, and excess.

The novel's protagonist is Sean Bateman, a wealthy and privileged student who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Sean is in love with Lauren Hynde, a beautiful and popular student who is dating Paul Denton, a charming and manipulative womanizer. Sean's obsession with Lauren leads him to engage in a series of increasingly destructive and self-destructive behaviors.

The Rules of Attraction (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Bret Easton Ellis

4.3 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1236 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	340 pages

The Rules of Attraction is a controversial novel that has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of addiction and excess. However, the novel has also been criticized for its nihilistic themes and its glorification of drug use and violence.

Plot

The novel begins with Sean Bateman waking up in a drug-induced haze. He is late for a meeting with Lauren Hynde, the beautiful and popular student who he is in love with. Sean eventually makes it to the meeting, but he is high and drunk, and he ends up embarrassing himself in front of Lauren.

Sean's behavior only gets worse as the novel progresses. He becomes increasingly addicted to drugs and alcohol, and he begins to engage in self-destructive behaviors. He alienates his friends and family, and he eventually drops out of college.

Meanwhile, Lauren and Paul's relationship begins to deteriorate. Paul is increasingly unfaithful to Lauren, and he eventually begins to abuse her. Lauren becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, and she eventually attempts suicide.

The novel ends with Sean, Lauren, and Paul all dead. Sean dies from a drug overdose, Lauren dies from a suicide attempt, and Paul is murdered by a jealous lover.

Characters

Sean Bateman is the protagonist of the novel. He is a wealthy and privileged student who is addicted to drugs and alcohol. Sean is in love with Lauren Hynde, but his obsession with her leads him to engage in a series of increasingly destructive and self-destructive behaviors.

Lauren Hynde is a beautiful and popular student who is dating Paul Denton. Lauren is initially attracted to Sean, but she eventually comes to realize that he is a dangerous and unstable person. Lauren becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol, and she eventually attempts suicide.

Paul Denton is a charming and manipulative womanizer. He is dating Lauren Hynde, but he is also sleeping with other women. Paul is eventually murdered by a jealous lover.

Themes

The Rules of Attraction explores a number of dark and disturbing themes, including addiction, desire, and excess. The novel shows how addiction can destroy people's lives, and how desire can lead to obsession and violence.

The novel also explores the theme of nihilism. The characters in the novel are all lost and without purpose. They are searching for something to fill the void in their lives, but they never find it. The novel's ending is particularly nihilistic, as it shows that all of the characters die without finding any meaning or purpose in life.

Style

The Rules of Attraction is written in a detached and ironic style. The novel's narrator is a cynical observer who witnesses the characters' self-destructive behaviors with a mixture of amusement and disgust.

The novel's prose is often sharp and witty, and it is full of dark humor. However, the novel's style can also be repetitive and monotonous at times.

Reception

The Rules of Attraction was a controversial novel when it was first published in 1987. The novel was praised for its unflinching portrayal of addiction and excess. However, the novel was also criticized for its nihilistic themes and its glorification of drug use and violence.

Despite the controversy, The Rules of Attraction has become a cult classic. The novel has been adapted into a film and a stage play, and it has been translated into more than 20 languages.

Legacy

The Rules of Attraction is a significant novel in the American literary landscape. The novel's dark and disturbing themes have resonated with readers for decades, and the novel has been praised for its unflinching portrayal of addiction and excess.

The Rules of Attraction has also been influential on other writers. The novel's style and themes have been echoed in the work of writers such as Chuck Palahniuk, Douglas Coupland, and Irvine Welsh.

The Rules of Attraction is a complex and disturbing novel that explores the dark side of human nature. The novel's unflinching portrayal of addiction, desire, and excess has made it a cult classic, and it continues to resonate with readers today.