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Paper Title

Mask of Love: Strategic Manipulation in Caroline Kepnes’ You

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Registration ID: IJNRD_309326

Published ID: IJNRDI001042

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Keywords

Impression Management, Manipulation, Persona, Front Stage, Back Stage

Abstract

The present paper uses the dramaturgical theory by Erving Goffman to discuss this strategic manipulation done by Joe Goldberg in the novel You by Caroline Kepnes. It shows how Joe creates and maintains an illusionary picture of love in the form of well-calculated performances in the company of others so that he can dominate every social situation and the virtual world of the Internet. And this persona goes in high contrast to his secret “back stage” self which is characterised by violence, obsession and psychopathic behaviour. The discussion demonstrates how the Impression management employed by Joe breeds a twisted reality not only to the victims in a particular narrative but also into a meta-narrative of manipulation because the reader is pulled into the same trap. By employing the theories of Goffman, the paper has underscored the harmful effect of influence, the psychological effects it has on the victims, and also the vulnerability which it creates due to curated online identities in the hyper-connected world.

How To Cite (APA)

Kirshana R & Reshmi K (February-2026). Mask of Love: Strategic Manipulation in Caroline Kepnes’ You. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NOVEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, 11(2), 199-202. https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRDI001042.pdf

Other Publication Details

Paper Reg. ID: IJNRD_309326

Published Paper Id: IJNRDI001042

Research Area: Science and Technology

Author Type: Indian Author

Country: -, -, India

Published Paper PDF: https://ijnrd.org/papers/IJNRDI001042.pdf

Published Paper URL: https://ijnrd.org/viewpaperforall?paper=IJNRDI001042

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