"Less Than Zero"

Paper Summary:

Bret Easton Ellis's novel, "Less Than Zero", follows closely the bleak and dreadful life of a rich teenager, Clay, whose sense of identity comes from the group of "brats" he roams around with. This paper argues that this novel is not a social commentary on decadent youth of Beverley Hills, but a story of a young, confused person who wants some goal and direction to give his life meaning.

From the Paper:

"If Less than Zero's narration appears rather deadpan do not blame it on the writer's youth or inexperience. This style of writing was absolutely intentional to match the flat, monotonous and almost half-dead life of Clay, his family and friends who are the main characters of the story. Their life was dead not because of lack of excitement, but due to an overdose of the same. It was so exciting that the word "excitement" lost meaning or sense and monotonous thrills did little to fill the void that everyone felt and no one acknowledged."

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