Addiction in Literature: Narrative Constructions of Dependency, Identity and Recovery

Addiction has served as a powerful literary theme across genres and periods, functioning both as a personal affliction and a symbol of cultural decay or existential crisis. This paper explores how addiction has been represented in English-language and literature from Romantic-era writings to contemporary memoirs and fiction. Through a close analysis of canonical texts by Thomas De Quincey and William Burroughs, alongside modern works by Leslie Jamison, Jesmyn Ward, Ocean Vuong, and others. This study examines addiction as a narrative tool that interrogates identity, trauma, gender, and societal norms. Theoretical frameworks from trauma studies, critical race theory, and disability studies inform the discussion, illustrating how cultural representations of addiction reflect and perpetuate ideas about morality, criminality, and recovery. This paper argues that addiction literature not only offers insight into individual psychology but also critiques larger power systems—including racial inequality, healthcare, and familial structures. Ultimately, addiction narratives serve as vehicles for empathy, critique, and cultural reflection.