The theme of this diploma thesis is the identity crisis of the main characters of the novel Escape, written by Milutin Cihlar Nehajev, and The Return of Philip Latinowicz, written by Miroslav Krleza. In the early chapters of the work I will explain the historical context of the emergence of modern Croatian literature. I will then bring the characteristics of Croatian modern literature. Milutin Cihlar Nehajev and Miroslav Krleza are writers of modern Croatian literature and their most famous works are the subject of this paper. Escape is a novel that talks about the collapse of the intellectual and the loss of personal identity of Duro Andrijasevic. His state of frustration because of unfulfilled expectations of others led him to a state of constant frustration and ultimately to suicide. His problems are addressed by fleeing in Senj to lay professorial exam, but he eventually collapses, loses his will for living and decides to end his life. The Return of Philip Latinowicz is a novel about the search for the identity of the painter Philip, who after many years of absence returns to his hometown to find answers to questions that tormented him all his life and to find the meaning of life. In Kostanjevac he meets people who are actually his alter egos, and the novel ends whit Filip's possible new beginning.