The article focuses on the idea of theatrical artwork in the aspect of postmodernism on the example of the novel of John Fowles “The Magus”. The article examines in detail the role principle of behavior of the main characters in terms of the unfoldment of the human personality and psycho behaviour in different situations. The author, basing on the theory of Yuri Lotman on the staging in the literature consistently maintains that the only correct behavior of the characters of the novel - it’s a special game human behavior in real life. Human personality is multidimensional and may be disclosed through a huge number of masks and internal roles. The material of the article may be of interest to literary scholars and lovers of creativity D. Fowles and literature of postmodernism.

theatricality, postmodernism, human identity, intertextuality, game start, carnivalization, identity.