Ashmawy, Merve Feryal2026-04-252026-04-2520251224-1768https://hdl.handle.net/11486/8122This paper explores the intricate themes of identity crisis and paranoia in Harold Pinter’s play The Birthday Party through a psychoanalytic lens. By analyzing the character of Stanley Webber, the study delves into how Pinter masterfully intertwines these themes with the psychological theories of Freud and Lacan. Stanley, who is initially portrayed as a reclusive and paranoid individual, gradually succumbs to an overwhelming identity crisis, exacerbated by the arrival of two enigmatic strangers, Goldberg and McCann. The paper argues that Stanley's identity crisis is deeply rooted in his traumatic past, which resurfaces with the intrusion of these external forces, pushing him further into a state of paranoia. Drawing on Freud’s concepts of defense mechanisms and repression, and Lacan’s theory of the mirror stage, the analysis reveals how Stanley’s fractured identity and paranoid tendencies reflect the broader societal anxieties of post-World War II. Pinter’s depiction of an atmosphere filled with menace and ambiguity serves as a powerful commentary on the existential fears of the modern individual, highlighting the fragile nature of identity in a world characterized by constant threat and uncertainty. The study contributes to the existing literature by offering a nuanced understanding of how identity and paranoia are thematically and psychologically interwoven in Pinter’s work, ultimately underscoring the play’s enduring significance in the context of modern theater. © 2025, Ovidius University. All rights reserved.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessHarold PinterIdentity CrisisParanoiaPsychoanalytic TheoryThe Birthday PartyArticle36261732-s2.0-105033067451Q4