The Program

Content Warning: This section of the guide describes and discusses the source text’s treatment of death by suicide, depression, and psychological abuse and manipulation.

Young explores The Struggle Against Oppressive Societal Structures, which is a theme that often features in dystopian fiction. The use of excessive violence against teenagers with mental illness reveals how an oppressive society will go to any lengths to control its citizens. They are lured in by the promise of safety and happiness offered by the erasure of memories, which is why Sloane’s mother becomes an informant against Sloane. Stigmatizing mental illness causes not only distrust in others but also in oneself, which redirects trust away from the community and toward the government. Rather than follow The Program, Sloane shows resilience by fighting against these oppressive forces in any way she can.

Young employs the dystopian tropes of surveillance, violence, and rebellion to highlight the oppression in their society. Sloane’s flashbacks of the handler taking Lacey away with Tasering, beating, and sedation show the extent of The Program’s violence. The physical aggression of the handlers makes Sloane feel helpless because she does not want to intervene for fear of what might happen to her. This highlights the importance of fear in oppressive systems: The Program knows that no one will interfere with their practices because of the fear of incarceration if they stand up for others.