SOCIETAL PRESSURE AND NON-BINARY IDENTITIES: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF ADAM SILVERA’S THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END

Abstract

This study critically examines Adam Silvera’s They Both Die at the End (2017), focusing on societal conformity and non-binary gender identities in the novel. Through character development, narrative structure, and thematic analysis, the paper explores how Silvera challenges traditional gender binaries and highlights societal pressures to conform. Using queer theory as a framework, the research illustrates how the novel reflects broader issues of identity, acceptance, and resistance within heteronormative cultures. Silvera’s work is positioned as both a reflection of contemporary attitudes toward gender and a catalyst for discussions on inclusivity and self-expression in a conformist society.