Perspectives

Literary period

Carolyn A. Drake’s short story “Pill Pusher” fits the postmodernist literary movement. This movement experienced a rise in the post-World War II era and gained popularity throughout the late 20th century. Although “Pill Pusher” is a recent work (first published in 2016), postmodernism is still a popular literary style used by many authors today.

The short story shows many traits which are common to twenty-first-century literary works. For example, the text has a theme which refers to contemporary problems in American society, such as substance abuse, illnesses, and faulty human interaction. It has political, social, and philosophical nuances, as it raises questions about the condition of young people and their work environment.

The context of the story is contemporary and refle...