Sociopaths in Literature
This post is devoted to sociopaths and psychopaths in literature. Click here to discover the differences between the two. Sociopaths and psychopaths have long fascinated us. One of the reasons for this is that we wonder what we could accomplish if we were not burdened by that obstacle that is a conscience.
There are numerous examples of sociopathic personalities in literature. These include:
The Prince (1532) by Niccolò Machiavelli — the reader is urged to be sociopathic
Othello (1603) by Shakespeare — the character Iago
Macbeth (1606) by Shakespeare — Macbeth
Persuasion (1817) by Jane Austen — Mr. Elliot
Vanity Fair (1848) by William Thackeray — Becky Sharp
East of Eden (1952) by John Steinbeck — Cathy
Here are some books with sociopathic/psychopathic protagonists that I have reviewed, and one that I have written.
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
My Review: Alex is an eccentric 15-year-old delinquent with a penchant for classical music and drinking milk. He and his fellow ‘droogs’ assault, rob and…(more)
The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson
My Review: Twenty-nine-year-old Lou Ford is a Deputy Sheriff from the West Texas town of Central City. Lou is a hard-working and simple character with a fondness for clichés…(more)
POP.1280 by Jim Thompson
My Review: Sheriff Nick Corey’s problems are mounting. There are the troublesome pimps, the nagging wife and mistress, and the forthcoming election that could see him replaced…(more)
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
My Review: American Psycho is a highly controversial novel that brought its author Bret Easton Ellis instant fame. The book is written from the perspective of a young Wall Street financier…(more)
Sepultura by Guy Portman
Publication Day – Thursday, January 11th – Dyson Devereux is a busy man, with a challenging new job at Paleham Council and a young son. He would be coping just fine were it not for crass colleagues, banal bureaucracy and…(more)
