>>36518I shouldn't be posting on this website, but I can at least give my perspective. It's his workout routine for me and the amenities in his apartment that he can use. To be in the best physical shape of your life, to be physically capable, is what I fantasize about. Part of that ties to Christian Bale and his dedication to changing his body for his role. I also believe that there is a glimpse of someone who honestly laments the superficiality of the world, the resigned "But inside doesn't matter", the frustration at not being able to get out of this fake artificial hell he feels compelled to belong to. Despite being ready to kill both Jean and Luis on two separate occasions, he cannot bring himself to do it because they express love towards him. There is
something resembling humanity deep within him, something that wants to believe there is more. There is also a slightly poignant scene with Courtney, Luis' fiancee, in the book where she confirms her intention to marry him and he accepts it, though just what does and doesn't happen is ambiguous.
That being said, he is 99.9% a vacuous monster pretending to be what passes for human among his social circle, and eternal misery is what he deserves. He is fundamentally amoral and the book shows he's been this way since at least childhood. There were numerous points where I had to put it down when I read it 13 years ago because the violence was just too graphic. The scene with the large rat and the cream cheese and the tube and the woman and the chainsaw will unfortunately stay with me for a long time. I do enjoy the movie for being a relatively abridged, more palatable experience that is a bit more cheeky with the satire.
