The Theatre of the Absurd and Psychoanalysis: E. Albee’s The Zoo Story as a Study Case.

This article aims at showing the link between Psychology/ Psychoanalysis and The Theatre of the Absurd. An attempt is made to study the postmodern anti-hero in Edward Albee’s absurd tragedy in order to show the way new thoughts, beliefs, and morals are oppressed by the old certainties of the mainstream cultural discourse. The study puts emphasis on one major psychological aspect-for instance the transference process- coined by Julia Kristeva to demonstrate the psychical obstacles, traumas, fears, and desires of the self in his never completed identity stability. This transference process should move through a three-dimensional temporality to ensure a well-balanced identity of the self. The first time is called the linear time; the second is the zero time, and the third is the resurrection time. In order to conduct this issue, I have proposed to analyze Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story as a sample of the postmodern struggle for achieving identity stability. As a conclusion, I have reiterated that unlike any other theatre of any other previous age, The Theatre of the Absurd-with its complex language and its literary devices- is much closer to Psychoanalysis and much concerned with an individual’s inner struggle that seeks to secure a position of respect and dignity within the symbolic order of the world.