I am command: A narratological analysis of patriarchal notions of power in Shonda Rhimes' Scandal

Using a narratological framework, this dissertation examines the rhetorical construction of power in the 2012-2018 television series Scandal, contending that showrunner Shonda Rimes subverts the dominant narrative in American culture of white patriarchy and challenges how the Western world identifies power only by using traditional, masculine structures as a guide. The analysis focuses on the depiction of protagonist Olivia Pope and how her power over herself and her power over others changes across the series, arguing her narrative arc challenges common constructions of powerlessness and disenfranchisement, particularly those of women and women of color.