The thesis is focused on the first three novels of Esther Tusquets: El mismo mar de todos los veranos (1978), El amor es un juego solitario (1979) and Varada tras el ultimo naufragio (1980). / It is inspired by the central theme of the three novels--the Spanish middle-class woman's search for identity--and it aims at showing that the female protagonists' search for identity and their failure in the process is inextricably linked with General Franco's dictatorial policy of imposing traditional norms and values on the Spanish people between 1939-1975. / The introduction summarizes the novels, explains the objectives of the thesis and looks at some critique of Tusquets' novels. Chapter one provides the socio-historical setting of the novels. It highlights details of the Civil Code and Francoist law and propaganda and their influence on women's identity and male/female relations. / Chapter two analyses the depersonalized condition of the protagonists and the third chapter takes a look at an attempt to redeem the women's identity. Chapter four examines the protagonists' failure and it is followed by a brief section of conclusions.

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