Iris Murdoch’s Iris Murdoch’s The The BellBell

Irish MurdochIrish MurdochAn IntroductionAn Introduction

BirthBirth

• Date of Birth 15-07-1919• Dublin, Ireland• Daughter of William John

Hughes and Irene Alex Richardson

EducationEducation

• Froebel Demonstration SchoolFroebel Demonstration School• Badminton School BristolBadminton School Bristol• Somerville College Oxford, Read Somerville College Oxford, Read

ClassicsClassics• Newnham College, Cambridge Newnham College, Cambridge

studied Philosophystudied Philosophy• Fellow of St. Anne’s CollegeFellow of St. Anne’s College

Marriage and AfterMarriage and After

• She married teacher and critic John She married teacher and critic John Bayley in 1956Bayley in 1956

• She had no childrenShe had no children• She suffered from Alzheimer’s She suffered from Alzheimer’s

diseasedisease• Died on 8Died on 8thth February 1999 February 1999• Ashes scattered in the garden of Ashes scattered in the garden of

Oxford Crematorium Oxford Crematorium

ProfessionProfession

• Assistant Principal at the Treasury, Assistant Principal at the Treasury, during warduring war

• Worked with UNRRA in London Worked with UNRRA in London Belgium and AustriaBelgium and Austria

• Egan her writing career with an Egan her writing career with an evaluation of Jean Paul Sartreevaluation of Jean Paul Sartre

• Became a novelist with the Became a novelist with the Publication of Publication of Under the NetUnder the Net in 1954 in 1954

Awards and HonoursAwards and Honours

• Awarded CBE in 1976Awarded CBE in 1976• Made a DBE in 1987 New Year’s Made a DBE in 1987 New Year’s

Honours ListHonours List• Gold Pen in the 1997 PEN Awards Gold Pen in the 1997 PEN Awards

for Distinguished Service to for Distinguished Service to LiteratureLiterature

Literary PrizesLiterary Prizes

• James Tait Black Memorial Prize for James Tait Black Memorial Prize for her her The Black PrinceThe Black Prince published in published in 19731973

• Whitbread Literary Award for Fiction Whitbread Literary Award for Fiction for her work for her work The Sacred and Profane The Sacred and Profane Love MachineLove Machine published in 1974 published in 1974

• Booker Prize for Booker Prize for The Sea, The SeaThe Sea, The Sea published in 1978published in 1978

Her Writing CareerHer Writing Career

• In 1954 In 1954 Under the Net Under the Net was publishedwas published• It was typical of its time in giving a richly It was typical of its time in giving a richly

amusing view of the Angry Young Man amusing view of the Angry Young Man rushing after affluence and seeking truth rushing after affluence and seeking truth where no truth exists.where no truth exists.

• In 1956 In 1956 The Flight from the Enchanter The Flight from the Enchanter was was published.published.

• It was a study in cruelty and power, the It was a study in cruelty and power, the sufferings of a man who allows others to cause sufferings of a man who allows others to cause the suffering which he himself cannot bear to the suffering which he himself cannot bear to inflict.inflict.

Her Writing CareerHer Writing Career

• Her works tightly constructed studies Her works tightly constructed studies of human relations under stress.of human relations under stress.

• Her Her The SandcastleThe Sandcastle was published in was published in 1957 and 1957 and The BellThe Bell in 1958. in 1958.

• Her approach is rather intellectual Her approach is rather intellectual than passionatethan passionate

• She depends on the symbolisms of She depends on the symbolisms of actions and situationsactions and situations

Her Writing CareerHer Writing Career

• Juxtaposition of the sombre and the comicJuxtaposition of the sombre and the comic• Presents unbalanced characters Presents unbalanced characters

incapable of dealing with normalityincapable of dealing with normality• A Severed HeadA Severed Head[1961] is the triumph of [1961] is the triumph of

militant woman, highly intelligent and militant woman, highly intelligent and cruel.cruel.

• The characters move and interchange The characters move and interchange relationships in a way related to human relationships in a way related to human emotionsemotions

Her Writing CareerHer Writing Career

• Sex and sexual symbolism, even Sex and sexual symbolism, even horror, become more apparent in horror, become more apparent in further convolutions of love desire in further convolutions of love desire in her later novels.her later novels.

• Some of her contemporaries are Some of her contemporaries are Muriel Sarah Spark, Doris Lessing, Muriel Sarah Spark, Doris Lessing, Brigid Antonia Brophy, Edna O’Brien Brigid Antonia Brophy, Edna O’Brien et al.et al.

List of Her WorksList of Her Works

• Under the Net [1954]Under the Net [1954]• The Flight from the The Flight from the

Enchanter [1956]Enchanter [1956]• The Sandcastle [1957]The Sandcastle [1957]• The Bell [1958]The Bell [1958]• A Severed Head [1961]A Severed Head [1961]• An Unofficial Rose An Unofficial Rose

[1962][1962]• The Unicorn [1963]The Unicorn [1963]• The Italian Girl [1964]The Italian Girl [1964]• The Red and the Green The Red and the Green

[1965][1965]

• The Time of the Angels The Time of the Angels [1966][1966]

• The Nice and the Good The Nice and the Good [1968][1968]

• Bruno’s Dream [1969]Bruno’s Dream [1969]• A Fairly Honourable A Fairly Honourable

Defeat [1970]Defeat [1970]• An Accidental Man An Accidental Man

[1971][1971]• The Black Prince [1973]The Black Prince [1973]• The Sacred and Profane The Sacred and Profane

Love Machine [1974]Love Machine [1974]

Under the NetUnder the Net

•   Set in London, it is the story of a Set in London, it is the story of a struggling young writer, Jake struggling young writer, Jake Donaghue. Its mixture of the Donaghue. Its mixture of the philosophical and the picaresque has philosophical and the picaresque has made it one of Murdoch's most made it one of Murdoch's most popular works.popular works.

The Flight from the The Flight from the EnchanterEnchanter

• Murdoch brings to life a circle of Murdoch brings to life a circle of friends and acquaintances each of friends and acquaintances each of whom has a somewhat obsessive whom has a somewhat obsessive connection to one man, Mischa Fox, an connection to one man, Mischa Fox, an enigmatic, wealthy, and powerful enigmatic, wealthy, and powerful mover and shaker in London. Murdoch mover and shaker in London. Murdoch was brilliant at interweaving the lives was brilliant at interweaving the lives of her characters, and describing the of her characters, and describing the world in which they lived somewhat world in which they lived somewhat disconnected from everyday existence. disconnected from everyday existence.

The SandcastleThe Sandcastle

• It is the story of a middle-aged It is the story of a middle-aged schoolmaster Bill Mor, with political schoolmaster Bill Mor, with political ambitions who meets a young ambitions who meets a young painter Rain Carter, come to paint painter Rain Carter, come to paint the Headmaster Demoyte’s portrait. the Headmaster Demoyte’s portrait. The plot deals with immaterialized The plot deals with immaterialized love between Bill and Carter.love between Bill and Carter.

A Severed HeadA Severed Head

• Set in and around London, it depicts Set in and around London, it depicts a power struggle between grown-a power struggle between grown-up middle class people who are up middle class people who are lucky to be free of real problems.lucky to be free of real problems.

• A satire involving adultery and A satire involving adultery and incestincest

An Unofficial RoseAn Unofficial Rose

• Iris Murdoch's novel deploys her gift Iris Murdoch's novel deploys her gift of high comedy in a family.of high comedy in a family.

• It dwells deep on the complex life of It dwells deep on the complex life of a family.a family.

• Filled with wit and irony.Filled with wit and irony.• It is a traditional family novelIt is a traditional family novel

The UnicornThe Unicorn

• A gothic romanceA gothic romance• When Marion Taylor takes a post as When Marion Taylor takes a post as

governess at Gaze Castle, a remote governess at Gaze Castle, a remote house upon a coast, she finds herself house upon a coast, she finds herself confronted with weird mysteries. confronted with weird mysteries.

• Some crime or catastrophe in the past Some crime or catastrophe in the past still keeps the house under a spell, still keeps the house under a spell, whose magic also touches the whose magic also touches the neighbouring house of Riders, inhabited neighbouring house of Riders, inhabited by a recluse. by a recluse.

The Italian GirlThe Italian Girl

• Edmund has escaped from his family Edmund has escaped from his family into a lonely life. Returning for his into a lonely life. Returning for his mother's funeral he finds himself mother's funeral he finds himself involved in the same awful problems, involved in the same awful problems, together with some new ones. He together with some new ones. He also rediscovers the eternal family also rediscovers the eternal family servant, the ever-changing "Italian servant, the ever-changing "Italian girl". girl".

The Red and the GreenThe Red and the Green

• An extended Anglo-Irish family living An extended Anglo-Irish family living in the vicinity of Dublin on the eve of in the vicinity of Dublin on the eve of the Easter Rebellion of 1916 reflects the Easter Rebellion of 1916 reflects the attitudes and pressures that lead the attitudes and pressures that lead eventually to the cataclysmic events eventually to the cataclysmic events at the Dublin Post Office.  at the Dublin Post Office. 

The Time of the AngelsThe Time of the Angels• Carel is rector of a non-existent City church (it was Carel is rector of a non-existent City church (it was

destroyed in the war). In the rectory live his destroyed in the war). In the rectory live his daughter, Muriel, his beautiful invalid ward, daughter, Muriel, his beautiful invalid ward, Elizabeth, and their West Indian servant, Patti. Elizabeth, and their West Indian servant, Patti. Here too are Eugene, a Russian emigre, and his Here too are Eugene, a Russian emigre, and his delinquent son, Leo. Carel's brother, Marcus, co-delinquent son, Leo. Carel's brother, Marcus, co-guardian with him of Elizabeth, tires to make guardian with him of Elizabeth, tires to make contact with Carel but is constantly rebuffed. These contact with Carel but is constantly rebuffed. These seven characters go through a dance of attraction seven characters go through a dance of attraction and repulsion, misunderstanding and revelation, and repulsion, misunderstanding and revelation, the centre of which is the enigmatic Carel himself - the centre of which is the enigmatic Carel himself - a priest who believes that, God being dead, His a priest who believes that, God being dead, His angels are released. At the end, Muriel finds herself angels are released. At the end, Muriel finds herself with the power of life and death over her father. with the power of life and death over her father.

List of Her WorksList of Her Works

• A Word Child A Word Child [1975][1975]

• Henry and Cato Henry and Cato [1976][1976]

• The Sea, The Sea The Sea, The Sea [1978][1978]

• Nuns and Soldiers Nuns and Soldiers [1980][1980]

• The Philosopher’s The Philosopher’s Pupil [1983]Pupil [1983]

• The Good The Good Apprentice [1985]Apprentice [1985]

• The Book and the The Book and the Brotherhood [1987]Brotherhood [1987]

• The Message to the The Message to the Planet [1989]Planet [1989]

• The Greek Knight The Greek Knight [1993][1993]

• Jackson’s Dilemma Jackson’s Dilemma [1995][1995]

List of Her WorksList of Her Works

Non-FictionNon-Fiction• Sartre: Romantic Rationalist [1953]Sartre: Romantic Rationalist [1953]• Acastos: Two Platonic Dialogues Acastos: Two Platonic Dialogues

[1986][1986]• Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals Metaphysics as a Guide to Morals

[1992][1992]• Existentialists and Mystics [1997]Existentialists and Mystics [1997]

The Bell- An The Bell- An IntroductionIntroduction

• A story of lay community outside Imber AbbeyA story of lay community outside Imber Abbey• Dora Greenfield returns to live with her Dora Greenfield returns to live with her

husbandhusband• Imber Court is a haven for lost souls seeking Imber Court is a haven for lost souls seeking

tranquilitytranquility• Lost Abbey bell is rediscoveredLost Abbey bell is rediscovered• It is the legendary symbol of religion and It is the legendary symbol of religion and

magicmagic• Hidden truths and desires are forced in to Hidden truths and desires are forced in to

light.light.

List of CharactersList of Characters• Dora Greenfield- art Dora Greenfield- art

studentstudent• Paul Greenfield- art Paul Greenfield- art

teacherteacher• Noel Spens- a boyfriend of Noel Spens- a boyfriend of

DoraDora• Sally- Dora’s friendSally- Dora’s friend• Michael Meade- Owner of Michael Meade- Owner of

Court outside abbeyCourt outside abbey• Toby Gashe- a young boyToby Gashe- a young boy• Mark Stafford- member of Mark Stafford- member of

Imber communityImber community• Margaret Stafford- Margaret Stafford-

member of Imber member of Imber communitycommunity

• Nick Fawley- member of Nick Fawley- member of the abbeythe abbey

• Catherine Fawley- nun Catherine Fawley- nun aspirantaspirant

• James Tayper Pace- James Tayper Pace- religious memberreligious member

• Father Bob JoyceFather Bob Joyce• Mother ClareMother Clare• Sister UrsulaSister Ursula• The BishopThe Bishop• The AbbessThe Abbess• Peter Topglass- a memberPeter Topglass- a member• Patchway- gardenerPatchway- gardener

To Be Continued…To Be Continued…