الفهرس 
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Abstract
This dissertation offers a psychoanalytic reading and analysis of some selected works of two important playwrights ; Adrienne Kennedy and Maria Irene Fornes. Although both playwrights differ in their playwriting techniques, yet both are interested in investigating issues that concern female identity formation. The main aim of this study is to investigate how both playwrights explore through their writings the suffering of women due to their psychic fragmentation. Due to different reasons, their female protagonists suffer oppression, humiliation and lack of identity formation. The study sheds light on how both playwrights offer through their plays a cry against the suffering of women in modern society. The study falls into four Chapters, introduction and conclusion. Through chapter one, the researcher explores the theaters of Adrienne Kennedy and Maria Irene Fornes. The chapter sheds light on their theatrical techniques, major influences that shaped their writings, and the major themes and issues tackled through their plays. It, also, gives a detailed study of the psychological theories to be applied on the analysis of their plays. Chapter two investigates how Kennedy portrayed the psychological suffering of her female protagonists. Through applying Melanie Klein’s theory of object relations, ego splits and defense mechanisms, the researcher illustrates how Kennedy tackles issues concerning identity, oppression and disintegration of black women in the American society. Chapter three deals with the exploitation of the female body in the male dominating society as represented in plays of Maria Irene Fornes. Though her plays, Fornes portrays the female struggle to build up their identities and defy the patriarchal society. The researcher uses Julia Kristeva’s abjection theory to analyze the plays. Chapter four sheds lights on Kennedy’s and Fornes usage of writing diaries and autobiographies as a defensive act through their identity formation process. It also illustrates how the characters use their writing to rewrite their identities and to reshape their images. Finally, through the conclusion, the researcher summarizes the findings and the results of the research.