Patrick Bateman is the narrator and protagonist of the novel. He is part of the upper class and works as a stockbroker in New York City.

After his first date with his secretary Jean, Bateman observes her observing him. As he says, “she is searching for a rational analysis of who I am, which is, of course, an impossibility: there… is… no… key” (253). Bateman observes: “there is no real me […] myself is fabricated […] my personality is sketchy and unformed” (362). He realizes that his character is opaque. He is not only mysterious to the other characters in the novel, none of whom come close to understanding him, but to the reader. Ironically, for a character whose narrative is so narcissistic and self-obsessed, the reader learns relatively little about who Patrick Bateman is or why he commits murder. Indeed, toward the novel’s end the reader is encouraged to doubt whether many of the events he describes even happened.

Bateman’s romantic relationships are defined either by superficiality or abuse. His family relations and past are only obtusely hinted at. For example, he recalls “how my brother and I once rode horses together, played tennis” (348).