FRAGMENTATION AND EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IN CRAVE: A STUDY OF LANGUAGE AND SUBJECTIVITY

Abstract

This study examines the intricate relationship between fragmentation, language, and subjectivity in Crave by Sarah Kane. Departing from conventional dramatic structures, the play employs disjointed dialogue, fluid voices, and the absence of linear narrative to portray the instability of identity and the crisis of meaning in contemporary existence. Through a qualitative textual analysis grounded in postmodern and existential frameworks, the study explores how fragmented language reflects the psychological disintegration of the speakers and their inability to construct a coherent sense of self. The indistinct boundaries between voices challenge traditional notions of character and subjectivity, suggesting that identity is multiple, shifting, and linguistically constructed. Furthermore, the study highlights how themes of alienation, longing, and emotional void resonate with existential concerns articulated by thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. The interplay between speech and silence underscores the limitations of language in expressing inner experience, reinforcing the idea of fragmentation as both form and content. Ultimately, the paper argues that Crave redefines dramatic expression by presenting fragmentation as a central mechanism for representing existential crisis and the fluid nature of subjectivity.