The contemporary dystopian text as a narrative on the adolescent journey to adulthood: overcoming authoritarian power and the struggle for collective identity, identity, and emotional competency in the face of suffering

Abstract

As of late, dystopian novels for Young Adults have become narratives for the adolescent’s journey towards adulthood. This thesis explores this genre of fiction as a narration of the power struggle between authoritarian institutions and the adolescent. It examines the way in which limiting power structures use discourse, spectacle, propaganda, and surveillance to further regulate individuals. In addition, this thesis examines the development of identity and emotional competency in repressive structures, as well as how freedom and autonomy are viewed within the dystopic novel. Aside from recognising how adolescents are able to transition into adulthood in oppressive and collusive environments, this thesis argues that it is precisely these hardships and the quality of suffering which makes the adolescent individual more capable of growth.