THE IDEOLOGY OF LOVE AS DISEASE IN LAUREN OLIVER'S DELIRIUM TRILOGY

This qualitative study employs content analysis to identify how the government enforced to its people the idea that love is a disease, how the characters' idea of love is different from the government's, and what is the theme of the trilogy about love. The study utilized the Cultural Approach in identifying and discussing the methods of the government to gain control using the ideology of love as disease and the Formalistic Approach in analyzing the central characters' view of love contrary to the government's, and the theme of love in the series. The results showed that the methods used by the government to eradicate the love disease supposedly are the means to gain control over its people. After the four central characters experience love, it influences their change in perception of it. Also, the characters became aware of the government's deception, which drove them to rebel against the government. Lastly, the theme of the series focuses on love as a crucial part of human nature, and therefore, it cannot be entirely eradicated by the government.