The Representation of Deviance in Bret Easton Ellis's Less Than Zero and Irvine Welsh Trainspotting

Abstract

In my thesis, I shall examine three kinds of deviance in two novels: drug addiction in Irvine Welsh‟s Trainspotting, alcoholism and sexual deviance in Bret Easton Ellis‟ Less Than Zero. In Trainspotting Mark Renton will be the analysed character, and in Less Than Zero, Clay, the protagonist and Julian, his friend will be my examples. I am going to investigate the way these novels describe deviant characters from their family and social background to their behaviour patterns, their attitude to their own addiction and interactions with others. I am particularly interested in the way these novels treat the latter: their interactions within and outside their peer group.