Crushed identities in jean genet’s the maids

Abstract EN

The present study sheds light on Jean Genet’s craftsmanship of transforming a simple story that revolves aroimd the love- hate relationship between two housemaid sisters and their mistress into a comphcated philosophical issue vis-a-vis the crushed identities of the play’s characters: Claire, Solange, Madame and Monsieur.

The study also shows that the identities of the play’s characters are already crushed beyond repair.

So they are no longer in search of identities as some critics would like us to believe.

Genet’s dramatic achievement lies in his genuine move to elevate the reader to be able to catch the message of the Absurd.

As the paper will argue, the two maids represent human’s vain attempts to reach any sense of identity.

Every human is always a potential candidate to become Claire, Solange, Madame or Monsieur