Date of Award

Spring 5-9-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in English

Department

English & World Languages

College

College of Arts & Humanities

Committee Chair

Dr. Paola Gemme

Second Committee Member

Dr. Ernest Enchelmayer

Third Committee Member

Dr. Arwen Taylor

Fourth Committee Member

Dr. Donna White

Program Director

Dr. Paola Gemme

Dean of Graduate College

Dr. Michael Bradley

Abstract

This thesis examines the evolution of female rage in young adult fantasy literature, focusing primarily on Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series while drawing comparisons to other contemporary heroines. It argues that female rage is not a sign of instability but a politically meaningful response to trauma and systemic oppression. Using trauma theory, affect theory, and narrative identity theory, this project traces how Aelin Ashryver Galathynius’s rage develops from a physiological survival response into protective care, political resistance, and ultimately reclaimed agency. Early in the series, her anger emerges as dissociation and emotional shutdown shaped by trauma and institutional control. As her narrative progresses, this rage becomes increasingly self-aware and ethically directed, functioning as both resistance to oppressive systems and a means of enforcing moral boundaries. By the conclusion of the series, her rage is fully integrated into her identity, transforming from a force of fragmentation into a foundation for leadership and collective responsibility. This transformation reflects a broader pattern within young adult fantasy, in which traumatized heroines reclaim their bodies, identities, and political authority. Ultimately, this project demonstrates that female rage operates as a form of resistance that reshapes individual identity and mobilizes collective political action.

Additional Files
Sara Chappell Thesis Approval Page.pdf (35 kB)
Committee signed Thesis Approval form
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