ultimately, all Institutionalized stories end with the third genre ingredient: a sacrifice. Heroes either join the system (1984), “burn it down” (The Help, The Outsiders, The Giver), or escape from it (The Handmaid’s Tale, The Great Gatsby, The Color Purple). The escape can also be a suicide (both literal or figurative). Regardless of the ending, the hero’s sacrifice serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of entering into an institution. In the end, the deeper message is about listening to your inner voice. Yes, we all need to be part of some type of group to survive, but it’s our
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