What are the characteristics of psychotic novels?

Answer 1

Psychotic novels often feature characters with distorted mental states. For example, they may have delusions, hallucinations or extreme paranoia. These characters' thoughts and actions are not in line with normal social or psychological norms.

Answer 2

One characteristic is the exploration of abnormal psychology. The narrative usually dives deep into the psyche of a character who might be experiencing a break from reality. There's often a sense of unease and unpredictability in the plot. The language used can also be erratic and disjointed, mirroring the chaotic mental state of the characters. For instance, in 'American Psycho', the main character's inner monologue is filled with disturbing and often random thoughts. Another aspect is that these novels may challenge the reader's understanding of morality as the characters' actions are often influenced by their psychotic states. In 'A Clockwork Orange', the violent actions of the main character make the reader question the nature of free will and rehabilitation in the face of such extreme behavior.

Answer 3

Well, they typically have unreliable narrators. Since the characters are often in a psychotic state, their view of the world is skewed, so the reader can't always trust what they're being told. The settings can also be claustrophobic or isolating, like the haunted hotel in 'The Shining'. This helps to intensify the sense of the character's mental breakdown. Also, there is often a blurring of the lines between reality and the character's delusions. In 'We Need to Talk About Kevin', the mother's account of her son's actions is intertwined with her own feelings of guilt and confusion, making it hard to separate fact from her own warped perception.