Control. The ability to change another human’s life in a whim. The constant power struggle between two beings, feelings so accurately captured in Michael Hollinger’s Naked Lunch. Hollinger is able to recreate the tension between the recently split couple of Vernon and Lucy with a series of allusions and the use of short sentences. Throughout the story, Hollinger alludes the state of the relationship before the split. He makes it clear that Vernon had complete control over Lucy. Vernon had a tight grasp on Lucy’s life, and it took all of her strength to break free. She struggled to gain control of the relationship, and when she did, she left. Hollinger is able to express all this despite never directly mentioning anything of the relationship