Misleading and Misrepresenting the American Youth: “Little Orphan Annie” and the Orphan Myth in the Twentieth Century
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This interdisciplinary thesis examines the myth of the orphan in twentieth-century America as exemplified through the recurring story of “Little Orphan Annie,” an iconic American figure of independence, resilience, and optimism. By providing historical context and literary analysis for each of Annie’s crucial moments in the twentieth century, this thesis shows how the character has advanced a misguided perception of orphan and youth agency. While evolving to represent different decades of American society in the twentieth century through different mediums, Annie has further misled Americans in their perception of orphan and youth agency. America’s failure to separate the fictional aspects of Annie’s life from the darker realities surrounding children, along with the country’s fascination with her triumphant narrative, has contributed to the misunderstanding of American youth.