Is Patrick Bateman or Maeve Fly More Insane?

I never thought I would ever find another protagonist/killer similar to that of Patrick Bateman from American Psycho. I finally found one that could rival him, the female version, who is the splitting image of Patrick Bateman. Her name is Maeve Fly, and oh boy, I believe she is just as insane as he is!

I had read both books recently last year back to back, and I was shocked to discover how many similarities these two characters have. These two could literally complete each other as a couple, or they could even be friends, who tend to go hang out at a bar to grab a drink together. 

Or perhaps they would be enemies, determined to kill the other, in order to remain in power over the other. 

They would be like Joker and Harley Quinn, but a ten times more sinister version of these iconic characters.

1. They both kill in brutal ways, enjoying the pain and torture of others. 

I'm honestly not sure which one is the worst killer from the duo. Patrick goes after anyone that he chooses, loving the feeling of killing someone. Maeve kills for two reasons, either for revenge, or like Patrick, she enjoys the taste of violence. The only real difference between them, is that Maeve did find someone to love, who was just like her. 

2. They both expressed some form of emotion towards particular people in their lives.

One of the few people that Patrick couldn't bring himself to harm was Jean, because he realized that she wasn't like the other rich assholes that he knew. She was a genuine good person, who truly cared about Patrick. He gives her a shot toward the end of the novel, deciding to date her, but even he knows that he wouldn't be the right man for her, due to his evil nature. 

Maeve cares for a family member in her home, and she also has a best friend that she cares about. She grows a close bond/romance with her friend's brother too, who turns out to be a killer too. 

3. They are both able to work normal jobs, blending into society. 

I think the scariest part of these two characters, is that they are easily able to pass off as 'normal' people that we run into in our everyday lives. Patrick is a rich dude who works in a company, that is hinted to be owned by his father, and Maeve works as a princess in Disneyland. 

It's crazy how people never suspect that these two are killers, until it's too late. 

4. The murders feel ambiguous in both stories. 

I know that it's up to interpretation for the audience to wonder if the murders are real in either case of these two killers, and it's a scary comparison these two characters have. I felt that in both stories of these two characters, some of the murders did not feel real.

There are way too many moments where they should have been caught by authorities, and I think that some of their kills possibly take place in their heads, due to how insane they both are.

5. The endings for both of these characters is quite strange. 

I thought Patrick and Maeve's endings in both books was way too similar. Patrick ends with his character spending time with his friends again, and he is desperately trying to confess his crimes, but no one is taking him seriously. Patrick walks toward a door in his confused state, only to discover that the door is not an exit. This ending implies that Patrick is either trapped in his mind for good, or that he can never escape from his evil nature as a monster. 

Maeve Fly ends just as tragically, with her killing the only person in the world that understood her. She breaks into his home after she murders him, and stares in horror at his basement, as she realizes her grave mistake. She finds a message, of her boyfriend confessing to her that he was a killer too, claiming that he loved her for who she was. It straight up ends right there, and I'm curious if Maeve also did lose her mind fully like Patrick did. We will never know, since the story ends right here, but it felt fitting to end her story like that. 

Both characters are equally terrifying, and it's scary to follow their point of views, getting a small glimpse into their madness.

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Thank you for reading!

Emy Quinn