Susan Smith Nash''s work investigates the how the apocalyptic narrative has been used historically and continues to be used to manipulate followers, who are, in many instances, complicit in their own subjugation, due to a wide array of reasons. This dissertation examines the origin of the apocalyptic narrative, its evolution over time, and its occurrence in twentieth-century American film and literature. It also examines the use of the apocalyptic narrative in cultural applications, namely the use of them in suicidal or violent cults.