Paul Owen Character Analysis in American Psycho

A fellow Wall Street investment banker, Paul Owen manages “the Fisher account,” a fact Patrick Bateman obsesses over, though the reader never learns the significance of this particular account. Paul confuses Bateman for Marcus Halberstam, another banker, so often that, when in his presence, Bateman calls Evelyn “Cecilia,” the name of Marcus’ girlfriend. Bateman despises (and is likely jealous of) Paul, and eventually plots to kill him, taking him to dinner (while pretending to be Marcus Halberstam), getting him incredibly drunk, and killing him in his own apartment with an ax. This particular murder, however, is often considered to be a possible hallucination of Bateman’s, as others report Paul being seen in London and, in the final pages of the novel, Bateman’s lawyer, Harold Carnes, tells Bateman he had dinner with Paul just the week before.

Paul Owen Quotes in American Psycho

The American Psycho quotes below are all either spoken by Paul Owen or refer to Paul Owen. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Vintage edition of American Psycho published in 1991.

He stares at me as if we were both underwater and shouts back, very clearly over the din of the club, “Because … I had … dinner … with Paul Owen … in London … just ten days ago.”

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 388

Explanation and Analysis:

Paul Owen Character Timeline in American Psycho

The timeline below shows where the character Paul Owen appears in American Psycho. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...those young British faggots,” judge the clothing choices of the other bar-goers, and eventually spot Paul Owen , another banker, who is “handling the Fisher account.” The men are all envious of... (full context)

...someone who has just entered the restaurant. The men guess who it might be: Preston? Paul Owen ? It’s Scott Montgomery, who Price refers to as “that dwarf.” The men take a... (full context)

...home. Suddenly, their appetizers are replaced with their dinners. Bateman, however, is distracted, staring at Paul Owen from across the restaurant and wondering how he got his hands on the Fisher account.... (full context)

...dull, and overbearing to Bateman. Price tells him that he’s “leaving,” and Bateman stumbles into Paul Owen , asking him about the Fisher account. Owen quickly runs off, spotting another colleague, and... (full context)

Across the way, Bateman spots Paul Owen . He asks the others who Owen is sitting with, and they argue over his... (full context)

When Paul Owen and his friends leave, Bateman, Hamlin, and Reeves immediately begin talking about him, mostly about... (full context)

...think Donald Trump thinks the best pizza in Manhattan is served?” Bateman has been bested. Paul Owen arrives, dressed impeccably. Luis notices Bateman noticing this, and makes a comment about a “powerjockstrap,”... (full context)

...see a concert of an “Irish band called U2.” The group includes Luis and Courtney, Paul Owen and his girlfriend, and Bateman and Evelyn – though Bateman mentions trying to bring along... (full context)

Bateman gets up to move to sit next to Paul Owen when all of a sudden something catches his eye. Bono has followed him as he’s... (full context)

...finds that he has a pulsing erection. He tries to pick up a conversation with Paul Owen . Owen has noticed some men standing on the sides of the stage who have... (full context)

...Dorsia for himself and Courtney, an invitation to the Trump Christmas party, learning more about Paul Owen ’s Fisher account, and sawing a woman’s head off. In the store, he lists to... (full context)

...limo – she’s delighted. He goes over to the driver and introduces himself, telling him Paul Owen told him it was all right for him to have his ride. Unfortunately, this isn’t... (full context)

...made dinner reservations for two under the name Marcus Halberstam. Tonight, he’s having dinner with Paul Owen . Bateman arrives to the restaurant late and the place is nearly empty; Owen seems... (full context)

Bateman leaves the body and heads over to Paul Owen ’s apartment, where he lets himself in with a stolen key and sits down to... (full context)

...two men both apologize to one another. Kimball tells Bateman that he’s been hired by Paul Owen ’s girlfriend to investigate his disappearance, and has been making his rounds talking to all... (full context)

...and left other body parts to rot around his living room. He heads over to Paul Owen ’s apartment. Donald Kimball, he’s learned, has confirmed Owen’s presence in London. (full context)

...go to. Van Patten returns and starts asking about Donald Kimball, the detective looking into Paul Owen ’s disappearance. It’s now after 10, and the restaurants they wanted to go to are... (full context)

Bateman decides to stop into Paul Owen ’s place, since he hasn’t been there since the night he spent with the two... (full context)

...realtor approaches him, unnerved, and asks if she can help him. Bateman asks her if Paul Owen lives in the apartment, and she assures him that he doesn’t. Bateman is distracted by... (full context)

...alone mutilate one. Carnes tries to walk away, but Bateman explodes, admitting that he chopped Paul Owen ’s head off. Carnes tells him that this is entirely impossible, as he had lunch... (full context)