Divulging Biopower Through Dystopian Novels

In a world where survival is dictated by those in power, control extends beyond politics to the very essence of life itself. This study analyses The Maze Runner and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes through the lens of biopower, a concept introduced by Michel Foucault to describe how modern societies exercise control over populations through the regulation of life, health, and bodies. Both novels depict dystopian worlds where authority figures manipulate and control individuals, reflecting the broader dynamics of biopower. Concepts in relation to biopower – like the control of power through life and death games and the control of the body and mind – will be analysed. The study adopts a Foucauldian analytical methodology and critical discourse analysis, focusing on how power dynamics in these novels reflect Foucault’s concepts of biopower and biopolitics. Through close textual analysis and critical interpretation, the study explores how these dystopian narratives utilize power structures that regulate the bodies and lives of characters, drawing connections to contemporary societal issues like surveillance and government control.