While taking a piss in the men's room, I stare into a thin, web-like crack above the urinal's handle and think to myself that if I were to disappear into that crack, say somehow miniaturize and slip into it, the odds are good that no one would notice I was gone. No … one … would … care. In fact some, if they noticed my absence, might feel an odd, indefinable sense of relief.
In this excerpt from Bret Easton Ellis's "American Psycho," the narrator reflects on a moment of solitude while using the men's restroom. He observes a crack above the urinal and imagines a scenario where he could shrink and vanish into it. This thought leads him to ponder the insignificance of his existence, suggesting that if he were to disappear, it would likely go unnoticed by those around him.
The narrator's musing reveals a deeper existential crisis, shedding light on themes of isolation and the lack of meaningful connections in his life. There is a stark realization that his absence might even bring a sense of relief to others, emphasizing his perceived unimportance in the social landscape. This moment powerfully encapsulates the unsettling atmosphere of the novel, exploring the darker aspects of human relationships and self-worth.
