Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Open Access Thesis
Department
English Language and Literatures
First Advisor
Cynthia Davis
Abstract
Crime and its representation in new age media is seeping into every avenue of discussion nowadays. The influence of crime is most notably evident in literature, where real cases inspired fictional novels and short stories that explore social issues and injustices. Since the 16th century, true crime has captivated human curiosity while also shedding light on the United States legal and justice system. Ultimately, true crime narratives provide a deeper understanding of human psychology and the reasons behind a number of gruesome and horrific incidents. This thesis investigates how Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy and Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of Her Peers utilize crime to critique varying social injustices. This study will explore how Sigmund Freud’s essays on the psychoanalytic theory of unconscious guilt and the concept of being “wrecked by success” influence the murder in An American Tragedy. Applying these theories helps us see how Dreiser encourages his readers to sympathize with Clyde rather than dwelling on the sensational aspects of his crime. I will then turn to A Jury of Her Peers, using a feminist lens to analyze how Glaspell’s story puts disruptive and oppressive patriarchal demands and expectations on trial as the true cause of the wife’s retaliatory violence. By analyzing these works through the lenses of psychoanalytic theory and feminist criminology, this thesis reveals how true crime literature serves as a powerful medium for offering insights into both individual and collective human experiences.
Rights
© 2025, Athena Maria Dotsikas
Recommended Citation
Dotsikas, A. M.(2025). Unveiling Injustices in Theodore Dreiser's “An American Tragedy” and Susan Glaspell's “A Jury of Her Peers”. (Master's thesis). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/8379