Patrick Melrose

Patrick Melrose is the novel’s protagonist. He is a 22-year-old man whose parents are wealthy members of upper-class British society. Because Patrick is from a wealthy family, he has no need to work. Patrick is thusly rather directionless. He is addicted to drugs including heroin and cocaine. He suffers from a general hatred of himself and others, and he generally possesses self-destructive, even suicidal urges. While growing up, Patrick was abused by his father. Patrick has formed conflicting feelings of hatred and admiration towards his father. Thus, when his father dies, Patrick suffers many intense, conflicting emotions.

Over the course of the novel, Patrick goes to New York City to collect his father’s cremated remains. Thrown into further personal turmoil by his father’s death, Patrick abuses drugs intensely and consistently while in New York City. Patrick resolves to quit heroin, but he soon breaks...