Committee Chair

Baker, Sybil

Committee Member

Einstein, Sarah; Wakefield, Hannah

Department

Dept. of English

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Dystopian fiction immerses readers in chaotic worlds where survival often hinges on understanding unspoken rules. Readers navigate these landscapes through the lens of the protagonist’s interiority. This thesis explores how interiority serves as a crucial narrative tool in dystopian literature, enabling readers to connect with protagonists and interpret their worlds. Through an analysis of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Divergent by Veronica Roth, and The Stand by Stephen King, this study examines how interiority is achieved through point of view, layered emotions, and desire and misbelief. This study not only highlights the role of interiority in dystopian fiction but also provides a framework for applying these strategies to my own novel-in-progress, Hidden Bruises. The document concludes with the first chapters of Hidden Bruises, which follows Lucas, a senior cadet at St. Arthur’s Military Academy in war-torn America, as he navigates life with his abusive father.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I am deeply grateful to God, whose guidance and grace have sustained me beyond measure. I extend my sincere thanks to my thesis chair, Professor Sybil Baker, whose mentorship has shaped both this project and my growth as a writer. I am also grateful to my committee members, Dr. Sarah Einstein and Dr. Hannah Wakefield, for their wisdom, encouragement, and invaluable feedback. To my classmates, thank you for your keen, honest, and often brutal insights. Your critiques made this work stronger. I would be remiss not to thank my family, whose unwavering belief in me has been a constant source of motivation. You have taught me that “different” is not weird and have supported me from the beginning. Lastly, a final thank you to Dutton, who happily ignored me and slept while I spent many late nights writing. You can’t read, but I’d like to think you’d be proud.

Degree

M. A.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts.

Date

5-2025

Subject

Apocalyptic literature; Dystopias in literature; Point of view (Literature)

Name

Ishiguro, Kazuo, 1954- Never let me go--Criticism and interpretation; King, Stephen, 1947---Criticism and interpretation; Roth, Veronica. Divergent series--Criticism and interpretation

Keyword

Dystopian Fiction; Interiority

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

vi, 69 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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