Siagian, Putri Theresia (2026) The Cycle of Abuse and The Development of Lily Bloom's Agency in Colleen Hoover's It Ends with Us (2016). Undergraduate thesis, Universitas Diponegoro.

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Abstract

Domestic violence remains a serious social issue that often occurs within intimate relationships and creates psychological and emotional harm for victims. Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us (2016) portrays this issue through the relationship between Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid. This study aims to analyze the recurring pattern of abuse in their relationship and examine how Lily’s individual agency develops through the support of secondary characters. This research uses a qualitative method with a psychological approach in literary studies. The data are taken from the novel It Ends with Us (2016) and analyzed using Lenore E. Walker’s Cycle of Abuse theory and Amartya Sen’s concept of agency and freedom. The findings show that the relationship between Lily and Ryle follows the three stages of the cycle of abuse: tension-building, acute battering, and honeymoon phase. These stages repeat and create emotional confusion that makes Lily remain in the abusive relationship. However, Lily gradually develops her agency through self-awareness and emotional support from secondary characters such as Atlas, her mother, and Allysa. Eventually, Lily decides to end the cycle of abuse and prioritize her and her child’s safety. This study reveals that agency in abusive relationships develops gradually and support from others plays an important role in helping victims break free from violence.

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