A C T A U N I V E R S I T A T I S L 0 D Z 1 E N S I S F O L I A L IT I E R A R IA 29, 1 9 90 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E w a W e ł n i e THE L I M I T S OF I R I S M U R D O C H ' S AR II S TRY A r t i s t i c d e v e l o p m e n t in t h e c a s e of I r i s M u r d o c h s h o u l d a l -w a y s be d i s c u s s e d in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e n o v e l i s t ’s p h i l o s o -p h i c a l i d e a s a n d h e r v i e w s on the t h e o r y o f l i t e r a t u r e . I r i s M u r d o c h ’s o w n t h e o r y of t h e n o v e l a r o s e f r o m h e r m o r a l p h i l o -s o p h y a n d h e r n o v e l -s r e f l e c t all t he t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a n d m o d i -f i c a t i o n s of c o n c e p t s a n d th e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s o f t h e a u t h o r in t h i s f i e l d * . Th e s t r i c t l y p h i l o s o p h i c a l i n t e r e s t s of I r i s M u r d o c h h a v e g o n e f r o m e x i s t e n t i a l i s m to p l a t o n i s m w h i c h is also r e f l e c t e d in t he s u b s e q u e n t n o v e l s , b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e p a r t i a l -ly e x i s t e n t i a l " U n d e r the N e t ” ( 1 9 5 4 ) u p to t h e m o r e p l a t o n i s t " T h e Se a, t h e S e a " ( 1 9 7 8 ) a n d f i n i s h i n g w i t h t h e t w e n t y t h i r d n o v e l , th e m o s t r e c e n t so fa r, " T h e B o o k an d t h e B r o t h e r h o o d " ( 1 9 8 7 ) . Ir is M u r d o c h b e l i e v e s that c l e a r a n d m e a n i n g f u l c o n c e p t s can 2 f o r m th e b a s i s fo r r e a c h i n g m o r a l e x c e l l e n c e . T h i s t h e o r e t i -A b r i e f s u r v e y of t he i d e a s e x p r e s s e d s o fa r by Iris M u r -d o c h c a n b e f o u n -d in m y a r t i c l e "Iri s M u r -d o c h : T h e o r y a n d P r a c t i c e C h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n in " T he S e a, th e S e a " , " W y d a w n i c t w o N a u -k o w e W S P w B y d g o s z c z y " I 9 B1 , S t u d i a - f i l o l o g i c z n e , z. 13. C o m -p l e t e b i b l i o g r a -p h y of I r i s M u r d o c h ’s w o r k s a n d th e u p to d a t e c r i t i c i s m c o n c e r n i n g t h e m c a n be f o u n d in m y d o c t o r a l d i s s e r -t a -t i o n " K o n s t r u k c j a p o s t a c i i t e c h n i k a n a r r a c j i w p o w i e ś c i a c h I r i s M u r d o c h " ( U n i w e r s y t e t Ł ó d z k i , 1 9 8 5 ) whicłi is a l r e a d y a c -c e p t e d fo r p u b l i -c a t i o n b y t h e S -c i e n t i f i -c S o -c i e t y in Torurt a n d w i l l s o o n a p p e a r u n d e r th e t i t l e " I r i s M u r d o c h p o w i e ś c i o p i -s a r k a i m o r a l i -s t k a " . 2 T h i s s t a t e m e n t a p p e a r e d in M. 0. В e l 1 a m y , An Inter-v i e w w i t h I r i s M u r d o c h , " C o n t e m p o r a r y L i t e r a t u r e " 1 9 7 7 , Inter-vo l. IB, p. 136.
ca l s t a t e m e n t f i n d s it s e x p r e s s i o n in e v e r y n o v e l u n d e r th e s h a p e of c a r e f u l l y o b s e r v e d r e l a t i o n s a m o n g th e c h a r a c t e r s . T he p o r t r a i t s of M i c h a e l M e a d e in " T h e D e l l " , E m m a S a n d s in "An U n o f f i c i a l R o s e ” , J o h n D u c a n e in " T h e N i c e a n d th e G o o d " , A u -s t i n G i b -s o n G r e y in "A n A c c i d e n t a l M a n " , C h a r l e s A r r o w b y in " T h e Se a, t b e S e a" , A n n e in " N u n s a n d S o l d i e r s ” a n d o t h e r s , m a -n i f e s t the f act t h a t h u m a -n b e h a v i o u r is a l w a y s e x t r e m e l y i m -p o r t a n t a n d the d i r e c t p a r t i c i p a t i o n in s o c i a l r e l a t i o n s Is the fi na l t e st of e v e r y o n e ’s m o r a l i t y . Tb e m a i n i n t e r e s t in the f i e l d of e t h i c s is for Ir is M u r d o c h l e a r n i n g a b o u t o n e s e l f a n d o t h e r s as m u c h as it is p o s s i b l e w i t h i n th e f r a m e of h u m a n li-m i t a t i o n s . In the p r e s e n t e d c o n t i n g e n t ^ w o r l d o n l y d y n a m i c , i n t e r p e r s o n a l r e l a t i o n s g i v e the p o s s i b i l i t y of e s c a p i n g f r o m the m a t e r i a l w o r l d a n d a r e the o n l y w a y to r e a c h t r a n s c e n d e n -tal v a l u e s. T he r o a d to f r e e d o m , w i s d o m a n d h a p p i n e s s r e q u i r e s i m m e r s i n g o n e s e l f in th e o p a c i t y of a n o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g ; D i f -f e r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e s -f r o m w h i c h t h i s p r o b l e m is p r e s e n t e d in t h e s e n o v e l s m a n i f e s t t h e r i c h n e s s of I r i s M q r d o c h ’s l i t e r a r y c r e a t i v e n e s s a n d h e r c o n t i n u o u s s e a r c h t o w a r d s e x c e l l e n c e . The e a r l y n o v e l s o f I r i s M u r d o c h a r e e x p l i c i t in their m e a n -i n g a n d -in t h -is s e n s e t h e y ar e m o r e c l o s e d , w h e r e a s th e l a t e r n o v e l s a l l o w fo r m a n y v a r i o u s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a n d h e n c e t h e y a- re m o r e o pe n . Th e p h i l o s o p h i c a l o u t c o m e of " U n d e r th e N e t " for i n s t a n c e is c l e a r l y p r e s e n t e d a n d th e c h a r a c t e r of J a c k e x -p l i c i t l y s k e t c h e d . . T h e m o r e r e c e n t n o v e l s on the o t h e r h à n d , l i k e " H e n r y a n d C a t o " , " T h e Se a, th e S e a" , " N u n s a n d S o l d i e r s " , " T h e P h i l o s o h e r ’s P u p i l " l e a v e a lot of s c o p e for t h e r e a d e r ’s o w n i m a g i n a t i o n . It s e e m s t h at w i t h e v e r y f o l l o w i n g n o v e l I r is M u r d o c h t r e a t s h e r w o r k w i t h g r e a t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . In t h i s w a y s h e a t t e m p t s f u l f i l l i n g o n e of t he m o s t i m p o r t a n t a s s u m p -t i o n s in h e r o w n -t h e o r y of -the n o v e l . In the r a n g e of c h a r a c t e r c r e a t i o n o n e c a n a l s o o b s e r v e i The t e r m c o n t i n g e n c y in I r i s M u r d o c h ’s t h e o r y is th e k e y w o r d fo r u n d e r s t a n d i n g h u m a n p e r s o n a l i t y f r o m th e p o i n t of v i e w of m o r a l i t y . C o n t i n g e n c y d e f i n e s th e a b i l i t y to a c c e p t fa te , to a c c e p t t he a c c i d e n t a l , th e u n p r e d i c t a b l e , th e u n u s u a l .
c e r t a i n p r o g r e s s a l t h o u g h th e n o v e l i s t h e r s e l f c l a i m s t h a t s h e is s t i l l far f r o m p e r f e c t i o n in t h i s r e s p e c t . In o n e of t he i n -t e r v i e w s I r i s M u r d o c h s -t a -t e d , " T h e c r e a -t i o n of c h a r a c t e r is a d i f f i c u l t t h i n g . I ’m n o t y e t p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d at it. M y p l o t a n d t h e k i n d of c e n t r a l magic a r e s o strong t h a t t h e y t e n d to d r a w the c h a r a c t e r s t o o m u c h t o w a r d s th e c e n t r e ” 4 . In o t h e r w o r d s I r i s M u r d o c h h a s n o t as y et b e e n a b l e to c r e a t e c h a r a c t e r s in t h e i r n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y s e n s e ’’ . Th e w r i t e r c a n n o t a l w a y s s o l -ve t he p r o b l e m of a c h a r a c t e r m a i n l y b e c a u s e S h e is n o t , c o n t -r a -r y to th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y w r i t e r s , t o l e r a n t e n o u g h t o w a r d s h e r c h a r a c t e r s . In a n o t h e r i n t e r v i e w I r is M u r d o c h s a i d , " S o m e of m y c h a r a c t e r s fa il to e m e r g e as i n d e p e n d e n t i n d i v i d u a l s , a n d a r e m e r e e x t e n s i o n s of m y e m o t i o n a l a n d p h i l o s o p h i c a l b i a s " 6 . F u r t h e r o n i n t h e s a m e i n t e r v i e w t h e n o v e l i s t g i v e s t h e e x a m p l e of H a n n a h f r o m " T h e U n i c o r n " as a c h a r a c t e r t h a t h a s e s c a p e d the a u t h o r ’s c o n t r o l . O r i g i n a l l y H a n n a h w a s m e a n t to b e a s y m -b o l i c c h a r a c t e r w h o s i m i l a r l y to C h r i s t , t h r o u g h h e r s u f f e r i n g w a s to r e d e e m th e p e o p l e a r o u n d he r. I n s t e a d , H a n n a h h e r s e l f h a s th e f e e l i n g of g u i l t a n d d e c e i t . H e r p e r s o n a l i t y d e v e l o p e d in a n u n f o r a e e n d i r e c t i o n a n d as a r e s u l t s h e h a s b e c o m e an u n s u i t a b l e i m a g e of th e r e d e e m e r . S a t i s f y i n g r e s u l t s c a n o n l y be a c h i e v e d in t h e s e c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h r u u g h c l o s e c o n t r o l of t h e c h a r a c t e r c r e a t i o n a n d the p r o p e r b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e c h a -r a c t e -r s a n d t h e p l o t . In h i s i n t e r v i e w w i t h I r i s M u r d o c h , F r a n k K e r m o d e q u o t e s t he w o r d s of t h e a u t h o r a b o u t c h a r a c t e r c r e a t i o n , " O n e s t a r t s o ff - at le a s t I s t a r t of f - h o p i n g t h a t e v e r y t i m e t h i s s u c -c e s s f u l -c h a r a -c t e r -c r e a t i o n is g o i n g to h a p p e n a n d t h a t a lot of p e o p l e w h o a r e n o t m e a r e 9o i n g to c o m e i n t o e x i s t e n c e in 4 В e I 1 a m y, o p . c i t . , p, 139. J The n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y E n g l i s h w r i t e r s a n d t h e i r n o v e l s a r e the m o d e l s f or I r i s M u r d o c h . T h e s e a r e t h e o n l y g o o d a n d g r e a t n o v e l s a c c o r d i n g to t h e a u t h o r b e c a u s e t h e y p r e s e n t real a n d c o n v i n c i n g h u m a n b e i n g s a g a i n s t a r e a l i s t i c b a c k g r o u n d . At the s a m e t i m e a l l t h e s e n o v e l s c a r r y a p r o f o u n d m o r a l me a n i n g . 6 R. L. H e y d, A n I n t e r v i e w w i t h I r i s M u r d o c h , " U n i v e r -s i t y of W i n d -s o r R e v i e w " 1 9 6 3 , No. I, p. 142.
s o m e w o n d e r f u l way. Y e t o f t e n it t u r n s o u t in the e n d th at s o m e t h i n g a b o u t the s t r u c t u r e o f t he w o r k i t s e l f , t h e m y t h as it w e r e of the w o r k , h a s d r a w n al l t h e s e p e o p l e i n t o a k i n d of f o r m w h i c h u l t i m a t e l y is the f o r m of o n e ' s o w n m i n d " 7 . In t h i s w a y thu a s p e c t th a t I r i s M u r d o c h m o s t o b j e c t s to in h e r t h e o -r e t i c a l w -r i t i n g s b e c o m e s a l s o h e r o w n f l a w in s o m e of the n o -vel s. J u s t as it is th e c a s e w i t h m a n y c h a r a c t e r s in h e r n o v e l s Ir i s M u r d o c h o f t e n t a k e s u p t h e r o l e of th e A l m i g h t y t o w a r d s the m. T h i s s e e m i n g l y c o n t i n g e n t w o r l d c r e a t e d b y t h e n o v e l i s t is p a r t i a l l y s h a k e n by th e f ac t th a t I r i s M u r d o c h h e r s e l f is the v e r y p e r s o n w h o c r e a t e s it in al l t h e s e n o v e l s . If the r e a d e r s a r e to b l a m e t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s in h e r n o v e l s w h o d e l i -b e r a t e l y u s e t h e i r g r e a t p o w e r , th ey c o u l d a l s o b l a m e th e a u -th or for c r e a t i n g t h i s s c h e m e of s e l f d e s t r u c t i o n in w h i c h t h e y a r e p l a c e d . S o m e t i m e s th e a u t h o r m a n i f e s t s h e r g o d - l i k e p o w e r t h r o u g h p u n i s h i n g t h e i n n o c e n t as it is f o r i n s t a n c e the c a s e w i t h H a r r i e t in " T h e S a c r e d a n d P r o f a n e L o v e M a c h i n e " . F r e q u e n t a n d s u r p r i s i n g t u r n s of a c t i o n a l s o r e m i n d of the c o n s t a n t p r e s e n c e of t he a u t h o r , n o t d i r e c t l y in t he l a n g u a g e of n a r r a t i o n w h i c h is r e l a t i v e l y f r e e f r o m the a u t h o r ’s i n t e r -f e r e n c e s , b u t in a r r a n g i n g th e p l o t w h i c h is a l w a y s s u b o r d i n a -te to s o m e o u t e r a i m a n d t he o ry . T he a u t h o r e v e n s e e m s to s u g -g e s t c e r t a i n c o n n e c t i o n s e x i s t i n -g in a ll h e r w o r k s t h r o u g h a l -l u s i o n s to c h a r a c t e r s or p r o b l e m s t h a t h a v e a l r e a d y a p p e a r e d in o t h e r n o v e l s . T h e s e p r o b l e m s t ha t h a v e b e e n d e a l t w i t h m a -r g i n a l l y in the e a r l i e r n o v e l s , s o m e t i m e s b e c o m e the m a i n o n -e s in t h-e l a t -e r n o v -e l s . C h a r a c t e r s w i t h th e s a m e n a m e s a p p e a r in s e v e r a l n o v e l s c a u s i n g th e i m p r e s s i o n of c e r t a i n h o m o g e n -e i t y of th -e p r -e s -e n t -e d w o r l d . F o r i n s t a n c e M i l d r e d a n d F e l i x in "A n U n o f f i c i a l R o s e " d r i n k w i n e of th e L y n c h G i b b o n b r a n d , d i -r e c t l y i m p o -r t e d f -r o m th e w i n e -r y of M a r t i n L y n c h - G i b b o n in "A S e v e r e d H e a d " , w h i l e C h a r l e s A r r o w b y in " T h e S e a , th e S e a " k n o w s A d e l a i d e a n d W i l l i a m , the c h a r a c t e r s f r o m " B r u n o ’s Dream". 7 F. К e r m o , d e, H o u s e of F i c t i o n . I n t e r v i e w s w i t h S e -v e n E n g l i s h N o -v e l i s t s , " P a r t i s a n R e -v i e w " 196 3, No. 30, p. 63- 6 4
.
T h i s m e t h o d s u g g e s t s t h a t all t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s l i v e t h e i r o w n l i v e s a l s o o u t s i d e t h e w o r l d of the n o v e l in w h i c h t h e y o r i -g i n a l l y a p p e a r e d a n d it u n d e r l i e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y t h e r e a l i s -t i c o u -t c o m e of t h e s e h o o k s . It is at t h e s a m e t i m e a g o o d e x -a m p l e of th e c o n t i n g e n c y o f h u m a n l i f e w h i c h is s o v e r y i m -p o r t a n t in I r i s M u r d o c h ’s v i e w s . Yet, it a l s o r e m i n d s us t h a t it is n o t a n y b o d y e l s e th a t c r e a t e s t h i s c o n t i n g e n c y . N e v e r t h e l e s s , I r i s M u r d o c h a l s o t a k e s u p t he g o d l i k e p o s i t i o n in a m o r e p o s i t i v e s e n s e , t h r o u g h b r i n g i n g o u t in the r e a d -e r s t h-e f -e -e l i n g of g r e a t s y m p a t h y f o r th e c h a r a c t e r s s h e p r e -s e n t -s . It s e e m s to b e r a t h e r s i g n i f i c a n t t h a t th e m a j o r i t y of h e r p r o t a g o n i s t s a n d a l l f i r s t p e r s o n n a r r a t o r s a r e m e n . O n e c o u l d p r o b a b l y l i n d m a n y r e a s o n s for s u c h p r e s e n t a t i o n b u t o n e is c e r t a i n l y m o s t i m p o r t a n t - it is t h e a t t e m p t of t h e n o v e l -ist to p r e s e n t c h a r a c t e r s e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m h e r s e l f , c h a -r a c t e -r s w h o ar e c o n c e r n e d w i t h t h e i r o w n p r o b l e m s . In I r i s M u r d o c h ’s v i e w it is t h i s a b i l i t y t h a t m a k e s a g e n u i n e l y g o o d n o v e l i s t b e c a u s e a c c o r d i n g to h e r t h e o r y O n l y a p e r s o n t r u l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h o t h e r s c a n u n d e r s t a n d t h e m a n d s i m i l a r l y o n l y s u c h an a r t i s t c a n p r e s e n t a c o n v i n c i n g v i s i o n of th e w o r l d u a n d a n o t h e r h u m a n b e i n g . In h e r p h i l o s o p h i c a l w o r k " S a r t r e . R o m a n t i c R a t i o n a l i s t " I- r i s M u r d o c h c r i t i c i z e s S a r t r e ' s n o v e l 3 f o r th e l a c k of t he a u t h o r ’s s y m p a t h y t o w a r d s h i s c h a r a c t e r s a n d h e n c e f o r th e c r e a t i o n of u n c o n v i n c i n g c h a r a c t e r s . T h e w o r l d a n d t h e p e o p l e p r e s e n t e d by S a r t r e a r e a r b i t r a r y a n d s o l i p s i s t i c . T h e n o v e l s of Iris M u r d o c h o n t h e c o n t r a r y , d e s c r i b e f r o m m a n y d i f f e r e n t p o i n t s o f v i e w v a r i o u s l a y e r s o f e x p e r i e n c e a n d aru not treated m e r e l y as the m e a n s fo r c o n v e y i n g th é a u t h o r ’s o w n d i l e m m a s a n d p r o b l e m s . The c h a r a c t e r s c r e a t e d by I r i s M u r d o c h , or at l e a s t t he b e s t o f t h e m , a l w a y s j o i n t w o w o r l d s - t h e y m o v e a r o u n d a n d f u n c
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In m y i n t e r v i e w w i t h I r i s M u r d o c h in h e r L o n d o n f l a t in S e p t e m b e r 1 9 81 the n o v e l i s t e x p r e s s e d th e a b o v e m e n t i o n e d views a n d a l s o a d d e d t h at S h e c h o o s e s m e n f o r h e r m a i n c h a r a c t e r s b e c a u s e t h e y s e e m to b e m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t i n s o c i a l l i f e a n d a s s u c h they a r e m o r e i n t e r e s t i n g . B e s i d e s , I r i s M u r d o c h w o u l d n o t l i k e to b e c a l l e d a w o m a n - n o v e l i s t as s h e d o e s n o t c o n s i d -er h e r s e l f a f e m i n i s t w r i t e r .t i o n in the v e r y r e a l i s t i c a l l y p r e s e n t e d w o r l d o f m o d e r n E n -g l a n d b u t at the s a m e t i m e t h e s e c h a r a c t e r s a n d t h e i r a c t i o n s c a r r y a d d i t i o n a l , m o r e u n i v e r s a l , o f t e n s y m b o l i c m e a n i n g . Thanks to t h i s m e t h o d of c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n th e r e a d e r c o m e s a c r o s s i n -t e r e s -t i n g c h a r a c -t e r s w h o a r e r i c h p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y , f u l l y d e v e -l o p e d a n d i n t r i g u i n g . T h e s e l i v e l y a n d c o l o u r f u l b e i n g s , Ju s t as the c h a r a c t e r s f r o m t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y n o v e l s , s t a y in the m e m o r y of the r e a d e r s for a l o n g t i m e a l s o b e c a u s e of the v i s u a l m e t h o d of p r e s e n t a t i o n w h i c h c o n c e r n s b o t h the main a n d t he s e c o n d a r y c h a r a c t e r s s u c h as fo r e x a m p l e J a c k in " U n d e r t he N e t " , D o r a in " T h e B e l l “ , J o h n in “ The N i c e a n d the Gaod", B r u n o i n " B r u n o ’s D r e a m ” , B r a d l e y in " T h e B l a c k P r i n c e " , C h a r -l e s in “ T he Se a, t h e S e a “ a n d s e c o n d a r y o n e s s u c h a s th e Q u e n -ti n s i s t e r s in “U n d e r th e N e t " , A n n e t t e in “ Th e Flight f r o m the E n c h a n t e r " , the A n g l i c a n b i s h o p f r o m " T h e B e ll , R a c h e l in " T he B l a c k P r i n c e " , s m a l l L u c a in "T h e S a c r e d a n d P r o f a n e L o v e M a -c h i n e " , R o s i n a in " T h e Se a, the S e a" , etc.
In s o m e n o v e l s , h o w e v e r , i d e a s s e e m to o v e r s h a d o w the m a i n c h a r a c t e r s as it is w i t h M i s c h é . F o x in " T h e F l i g h t f r o m th e E n -c h a n t e r " , M a r t i n a n d H o n o r in "A S e v e r e d H e a d " or H a n n a h in "Ttw* U n i c o r n " . In s u c h n o v e l s th e c h a r a c t e r s a r e m a i n l y t y p e s w h o a r e r a t h e r a l l e g o r i c a l f i g u r e s t h a n r e a l l i v i n g i n d i v i d u a l s a n d t h ey a re no t a l w a y s o r i g i n a l l y m e a n t to b e suc h. T h e m a j o r i t y of I r i s M u r d o c h ’s c h a r a c t e r s u s u a l l y c a n n o t e a s i l y c o m e to t e r m s w i t h th e a c c e p t e d t h e o r i e s a b o u t m o r a l i t y a n d it is o n l y a f t e r a s e r i e s of p a i n f u l e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t t h ey f i n d the m o r a l m e a n i n g of t h e i r e x i s t e n c e . It is o n e of the r e a s o n s w h y the c h a r a c t e r s i n v a r i a b l y m o v e w i t h i n the f r a m e of an i n t e r e s t i n g , q u i c k l y c h a n g i n g p l o t . T h e s e n e w s i t u a t i o n s , in w h i c h th e c h a r a c t e r s s u d d e n l y f i n d t h e m s e l v e s , m o s t o f t e n s u g g e s t t h at t h e w o r l d t h e y l i v e in is r i c h in m e a n i n g and c o n -t i n g e n -t . Th us , e v e r y s i n g l e e x p e r i e n c e is u n i q u e , p r e c i o u s a n d s u r p r i s i n g a n d a l t h o u g h a l l th e s i t u a t i o n s c o n c e r n similar m o -ral problems, e v e r y s i n g l e o n e is d i f f e r e n t a n d n e v e r m a d e b o r -ing, The a u t h o r u s e s d i f f e r e n t p e r s p e c t i v e s a n d the r e s u l t is t h a t s h e a v o i d s s c h e m e s a n d s t e r e o t y p e s in c h a r a c t e r c r e a t i o n . C h a r a c t e r s in t h e n o v e l s of I r i s M u r d o c h d e m o n s t r a t e h o w u n -p r e d i c t a b l e a re the r e a c t i o n s of p e o p l e . J a c k O o n a g h u e , M i
-c h a e l M e a d e , M a r t i n I y ri ch -G ibb on , B r a d l e y P e a r s o n or C h a r l e s A r r o w b y , al l o f t h e m , e v e r y o n e in a d i f f e r e n t w ay , m a n i f e s t h o w i r r a t i o n a l l y h u m a n m i n d c a n o p e r a t e u n d e r s t r e s s . The be -h a v i o u r of t -h e s e c h a r a c t e r s a n d m a n y o t h e r s i n d i c a t e s t h a t m a n c a n ge t to k n o w h i m s e l f o n l y t h r o u g h th e c o n t a c t s w i t h o t h e r s . It is o n l y t h r o u g h l o v i n g o t h e r s t h a t o n e c a n u n d e r s t a n d h i m -s e l f a n d -s e e r e a l i s t i c a l l y t h e w o r l d a r o u n d h i m. T h e ma in mass -a g e -al l t h e n o v e l s of I r i s M u r d o c h c o n v e y is t h e s t a t e m e n t that l i f e is a r t a n d t h e g r e a t e s t a r t i s t is th e o n e w h o learns a b o u t h i m s e l f t h r o u g h t h e k n o w l e d g e of o t h e r s . T he n o v e l s of I r i s M u r d o c h d e a l m a i n l y w i t h i d e a s f r o m which the a u t h o r a l w a y s s t a r t s b e g i n n i n g a n o v e l a n d t h e c h a r a c t e r s s p r i n g f r o m t h e t h e m e n o t v i c e v e r s a . N e v e r t h e l e s s , in o n e of the i n t e r v i e w s t h e n o v e l i s t s t a t e d , "I s u p p o s e I h a v e c e r t a i n p h i l o s o p h i c a l i d e a s a b o u t h u m a n l i f e a n d c h a r a c t e r , a n d t h a t t h e s e m u s t s o m e h o w f i n d e x p r e s s i o n in m y n o v e l s : b u t f or the m o s t p a r t I a m n o t c o n s c i o u s o f t h i s p r o c e s s a n d I t h i n k it 9 w o u l d be d e s t r u c t i v e if I w e r e . I r i s M u r d o c h c l a i m s t h a t p h i -l o s o p h y is n o t h e r m a i n c o n c e r n b u t s h e a l s o a d m i t s t h a t p h i -l o s o p h i c a -l i d e a s a r e p r e s e n t in h e r n o v e l s b e c a u s e e v e r y w r i t -er s u b c o n s c i o u s l y w r i t e s a b o u t w h a t h e k n o w s b e s t ^ 0 . It is c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f I r i s M u r d o c h ’s w r i t i n g s t h a t s h e o f t e n p r e -s e n t -s e x t r e m e l y i m m o r a l , d i s g u s t i n Q a n d o d d c h a r a c t e r s w h o s e b e h a v i o u r is s o m e t i m e s h o r r i f y i n g . Th e p r e s e n c e o f s u c h c h a -r a c t e -r s Is th e -r e s u l t s of I r i s M u r d o c h ’s i n t e r e s t in t h e p r o -b l e m s of g o o d a n d e v i l a n d t h e i r m o r a l o u t c o m e . E v i l s e e m s to b e p r e s e n t e d m u c h m o r e c o n v i n c i n g l y t h a n g o o d in the n o v e l s o f I r i s M u r d o c h . It m i g h t b e t h e r e s u l t of t h e n o v e l i s t ’s b e l i e f t h a t e v i l is t h e b e s t c a t a l y s t w h i c h i n th e s h a r p e s t w a y d e f i n e s h u m a n p e r s o n a l i t y . T h e s e e x t r e m e l y b a d b e h a v i o u r s s h o w a c u t e l y t h e m a i n m o r a l d i l e m m a s o f h u m a n r e l a -ti o n s . T h e m o s t r e p u l s i v e a n d a t r o c i o u s p i c t u r e s of e v i l a p -p e a r in “ Th e F l i g h t f r o m th e E n c h a n t e r " , "A S e v e r e d Head ", "The
9
J. H a f f e n d e n , J o h n H a f f e n d e n T a l k s to I r i s M u r -d o c h , " T h e l i t e r a r y R e v i e w " 1983 , No. 58, p. 33,
T h e s e o p i n i o n s w e r e a l s o m e n t J o n e d b y the w r i t e r in m y I n t e r v i e w w i t h h e r in 19 81 .
Ital i an Girl", "The Time of the An ge ls" . The n o ve l i s t thinks that evil is mo r e f a s c i n a t i n g than good. One of the characters, Ju l iu s K i n g in "A F a ir l y H on o u r a b l e O e f ea t " e x p r e s s e s be st the n o v e l is t ' s a s s u m p t i o n wh en he says, "Gr o wn me n s ho w an eq ual fa cil ity for m a k i n g c o m p l e t e l y ab s u rd m e t a p h y s i c a l a s s u m p t i o n s w h i c h they feel i n s t i n c t i v e l y to be c o m f o r t i n g - for ins ta nc e the a s s u m p t i o n that g o o d is br i g h t an d b e a u ti f u l an d ev il is sh ab by, dr ea r y or at l ea st dark. In fact e x p e r i e n c e e n t i re l y c o n t r a d i c t s this a ss um pt i d n . G o od is dull. W h a t n o v e l i s t ever s u c c e e d e d in m a k i n g a g o o d m an in t e r e s ti n g ? It is c h a r a c t e r i s -tic of this p la ne t that the p a t h of v ir tu e is so u n u t t e r a b l y d e p r e s s i n g that it c a n be g u a r a n t e e d to break the s pi r i t and q u e n c h the vi si on of an y b o dy who c o n s i s t e n t l y a t t e m p t s to tread it. Evil on the c o nt ra ry , is e x c i t i n g and f a s c i n a t i n g and ali-ve. It is also very m u c h m o r e m y s t e r i o u s th a« good. Go od can be se en through. Evil is o p a q u e " 1 1 .
This theory can be ea s i l y q u e s t i o n e d as l i te r a t u r e k n o w s many e x am p l e s of e x c e l l e n t p i ct u r e s of g q od yet in the n o ve l s of Iris M u rd o c h it is de f i n i t e l y less f a s c i n a t i n g than evil.
It seems to be m o r e the re su l t of the a u t h o r ’s i n ab i l i ty to c r e a t e c o n v i n c i n g im ag e s of go od than of the c o n v i c t i o n that go od is really dull. The p a r a do x of Iris M u r d o c h ’s w r i t i n g s is that a l t h o u g h the n o v e l i s t p r a i se s and v al ue s g o od and c o n d e m n s evil and a m o r al i t y it is the latter two c o nc e p t s that are m u ch m o re c o n v i n c i n g l y p r e s e n t e d by the author.
Iris M u r d o c h ’s l i te ra ry the ory links real me n and c h a r a c t -ers wit h the c o n t i n g e n t w or ld in a way that the n o v e l i s t h e r -self best d e s c r i b e d in one ot h er p h i l o s o p h i c a l wor ks, "We imag ine f ict i ti ou s c h a r a c t e r s are c o n c r e t e i n d i v i d u a l s a nd a l -th ou gh it is true that the i n fo r m a ti o n we h a ve ab out the m is limite d, this may a l s o be so in the ca s e of real p e o p le , and an yw ay the i n fo r m a t i o n is e n d l e s s l y ope n to r e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . In fact we may in the c o u r s e of time, al ter our a s se ss m e n t of
12 a fi c t i ou s c h a r a c t e r " , 11 I. M u r d о с h, A Fa ir ly H o n o u r a b l e De fe at, P e n g u i n B ook s 19B0, p. 223. 1? I. M u r d о с h, V i s i o n an d C h o i c e in Mo r a l i t y , "P
ro-By m o v i n g t h e r e a d e r ’s s y m p a t h y f r o m o n e c h a r a c t e r to the o t h e r w i t h i n th e s a m e n o v e l a n d by p r e s e n t i n g a g i v e n s i t u a -t i o n f r o m m a n y d i f f e r e n -t p o i n t s of v i ew , I r i s M u r d o c h t r i e s to s h o w a t r u e v i s i o n of r e a l i t y . It is a l s o c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of I r i s M u r d o c h ’s n o v e l s t h at the c h a r a c t e r s m o v e In a v e r y re al s u r r o u n d i n g . It is at th e s a m e t i m e a f e a t u r e t h a t d i s t i n g u i s h -e s I r i s M u r d o c h - tb -e n o v -e l i s t f r o m I r i s M u r d o c h th e p h i l o s o -p h e r . In h e r w o r k o n S a r t r e the a u t h o r n o t i c e s , " T h e n o v e l i s t p r o p e r is, in h i s w a y , a s o r t of p h e n o m e n o l o g l s t T h e n o -v e l i s t h a s h i s e y e s f i x e d on w h a t w e do , a n d n o t o n w h a t we o u g h t to d o or m u s t b e p r e s u m e d to do C. .. ] H e h a s a l w a y s b e e n , w h a t th e v e r y l a t e s t p h i l o s o p h e r s c l a i m to be, a d e - s c r i b e r r a t h e r t h a n a n e x p l a i n e r ; a n d in c o n s e q u e n c e h a s o f t e n a n t i c i p a t e d th e p h i l o s o p h e r ’s d i s c o v e r i e s " * I r i s M u r d o c h ’s t a l e n t f or c o n v e y i n g t h e a t m o s p h e r e of th e d e s c r i b e d p l a c e s a n d e s p e c i a l l y the c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a u r a of l i f e in L o n d o n is a g o o d e x a m p l e of the a u t h o r ’s p h e n o m e n o l o g y . Ihe n o v e l s a r e f u l l o f c h a r m i n g d e s c r i p t i o n s of m a n y p a r t s of L o n d o n w i t h p r e c i s e n a m e s of t h e s t r e e t s , p u b s a n d s h o p s as it is fo r e x a m p l e in " U n d e r the N e t " , " B r u n o ’s D r e a m " , " T h e T i m e of t h e A n g e l s " , "A W o r d C h i l d " , e t c . S u c h d e t a i l e d d e -s c r i p t i o n -s of t h e m e t r o p o l i s m a y r e m i n d t h e r e a d e r o f th e d e s c r i p t i o n s of V i c t o r i a n L o n d o n t h a t o n e f i n d s in t he n o v e l s o f C h a r l e s D i c k e n s . S i m i l a r l y to D i c k e n s , I r i s M u r d o c h s e e m s to l o v e a n d h j t e t h i s c i t y at the s a m e t i m e b u t L o n d o n in t he n o v e l s of I r i s M u r d o c h is d e f i n i t e l y m o r e c h e e r f u l . T h o u g h b o t h t h e w r i t e r s u s e h u m o u r in t h e i r d e s c r i p t i o n s e a c h of t h e m h a s a d i f f e r e n t a r t i s t i c v i s i o n a n d d i f f e r e n t i d e a o f b a c k -g r o u n d in a n o v e l . In tb e s p h e r e of n a r r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e s o n e c a n a l s o o b s e r v e c e r t a i n d e v e l o p m e n t . S i m i l a r l y to m e t h o d s of c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n a l s o h e r e t h e r e is a c e r t a i n w i d e n i n g a n d d e e p e n i n g o f th e t e c h n i q u e s r a t h e r t h a n t h e i r r a d i c a l c h a n g e . I r i s M u r d o c h is n o t i n t e r e s t e d in n a r r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e s i n t h e m s e l v e s b u t treats ceedingss of th e A r i s t o t e l i a n S o c i e t y " , L o n d o n 1 9 56 , v o l. XX X . p. 50. *^ I* M u r d o c h , S a r t r e , R o m a n t i c R a t i o n a l i s t , B o w e s a n d B o w e s P u b l i s h e r s L t d . , C a m b r i d g e 19 53 , p. 47.
t h e m es m e a n s o f r e a c h i n g c e r t a i n a im s . The n o v e l i o t ift l o o k -ing all t h e t im e fo r th e b e s t f o r m fo r bet1 n a r r a t i v e . T he f i r s t n o v e l , " U n d e r th e N e t " , w a s w r i t t e n w i t h i n t ha f r a m e of the f i r s t p e r s o n n a r r a t i v e a n d a f t e r w a r d s t h e r e w e r e n o v e l s w r i t t e n m a i n -ly in the t h i r d p e r s o n w i t h a p s e u d o - o m n i s c i e n t n a r r a t o r ? in " T h e B l a c k P r i n c e " the n o v e l i s t j o i n s th e n a r r a t i v e o f a n u n -r e l i a b l e n a -r -r a t o -r w i t h a s e -r i e 3 of c o n f l i c t i n g e p i l o g u e s ; in " T h e Sea, th e S e a " t h e a u t h o r u s e s t h e f o r m of a m e m o i r . The n o v e l s w r i t t e n in th e f i r s t p e r s o n a r e us ua ll y m o r e i n -t e r e s -t i n g f r o m -th e p o i n -t of v i e w of the n a r r a t i v e t e c h n i q u e s . In t h i s c o n t e x t th e d e v e l o p m e n t o f th e p r o b l e m of r e l i a b i l i -ty b e c o m e s m o s t s i g n i f i c a n t , b e g i n n i n g w i t h J ac k , t h r o u g h B r a d l e y to C h a r l e s . B a s i c a l l y s i m i l a r t h e m e s c o n n e c t e d with th e a s p e c t of g e t t i n g to k n o w o t h e r s a r e p r e s e n t e d w i t h d i f f e r e n t c o l o u r i n g . In " U n d e r the N e t " J a c k is o n l y a y o u n g m a n w h o l e a r n s fiow to s e e a n d p e r c e i v e t h e w o r l d a r o u n d h i m a c c o r d i n g to h i s p r i v a t e t h e o r i e s . B r a d l e y in " T he B l a c k P r i n c e " is an a r t i s t a n d a g r e a t e g o i s t b u t he p r e s e n t s a g e n u i n e l y a r t i s -ti c v i s i o n . In " T h e Se a, tb e S e a " t h e r e a d e r m e e t s a m o n s t e r of e g o i s m .
Ir is M u r d o c h s e e m s to be l o o k i n g all th e t i m e for the b e s t f o r m fo r h e r n o v e l s , u s i n g d i f f e r e n t m e a n s a n d p e r s p e c t i v e s . J u s t as the n o v e l i s t is c o n s t a n t l y in s e a r c h of n e w s o l u t i o n s to the m o r a l p r o b l e m s s h e is m o s t c o n c e r n e d w i t h , h e r n o v e l is in th e p r o c e s s of g r a d u a l d e v e l o p m e n t a n d m o d i f i c a t i o n . B o t h t h e s e f a c t o r s c l e a r l y d e f i n e the i n t e l l i g e n c e of th e a u t h o r a n d h e r o p e n m i nd . I r i s M u r d o c h d o e s n o t c l o s e h e r s e l f in the w o r l d of t he s a m e i d ea s a n d s t r u c t u r e s b u t sh e c o n s t a n t l y m a k e s a t t e m p t s at e x p l a i n i n g t h e m by m e a n s of h e r m e t h o d s . The existing f l a w s in h e r n o v e l s a r e t h e r e s u l t of t h e c o n f i l i c t b e t w e e n t he i d e a l s a n d th e p r a c t i c e of t h e m o d e r n s o c i e t y , w i t h whicb the n o -v e l i s t c a n n o t a l w a y s c o m e to t e r m s, a n d a l s o o f th e c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n h e r o w n m o r a l c o n v i c t i o n s a n d th e a b i l i t y t o g i v e a r t i -s t i c -s h a p e to t h e i r c o m p l e x i t y . Th e p r o p e r b a l a n c e a m o n g all t h e s e e l e m e n t s h a s n o t y e t b e e n a c h i e v e d by t h e n o v e l i s t . U n i v e r s i t y of M. K o p e r n i k in Torurt
t w e W e ł n i e G R A N I C E M I S T R Z O S T W A I R I S M U R D O C H A r t y k u ł a n a l i z u j e a r t y s t y c z n e o g r a n i c z e n i a p i s a r k i w z a -k r e s i e -k r e o w a n i a p o s t a c i i o p e r o w a n i a f a b u ł ą . G ł ó w n a t e m a t y k a p r z e d s t a w i o n a j e s t n a t l e z a ł o ż e ń f i l o z o f i c z n y c h i t e o r e t y c z - n o - l i t e r a c k i c h I r i s M u r d o c h , ze s z c z e g ó l n y m o d w o ł a n i e m s i ę d o p o g l ą d ó w e t y c z n y c h p i s a r k i i j e j p o d z i w u d l a p o w i e ś c i i p i s a -r z y d z i e w i ę t n a s t o w i e c z n e j A n g l i i . W c z e s n e p o w i e ś c i I r i s M u r d o c h s ą j e d n o z n a c z n e w s w o j e j w y -m o w i e i w t y -m s e n s i e b a r d z i e j z a -m k n i ę t e , p o d c z a s g d y p ó ź n i e j s z e p o w i e ś c i są b a r d z i e j z ł o ż o n e , d a j ą c z y t e l n i k o w i w i e l e m o ż l i w o -ści co d o r ó ż n y c h i n t e r p r e t a c j i , a c o za t y m i d z i e s ą b a r d z i e j o t w a r t e . We w s z y s t k i c h s w o i c h k o l e j n y c h p o w i e ś c i a c h pisarka d ą -ży d o c o r a z to w i ę k s z e j d o s k o n a ł o ś c i . W z a k r e s i e k r e o w a n i a p o s t a c i m o ż n a z a o b s e r w o w a ć p e w i e n p o s t ę p , c h o ć s a m a p o w i e ś c i o p i s a r k a p r z y z n a j e , że j e s t j e s z c z e d a -l e ka od p e r f e k c j i w tej d z i e d z i n i e . F a b u ł a i g ł ó w n a i d e a są z a w s z e p o d p o r z ą d k o w a n e p e w n e j n a d r z ę d n e j t e o r i i , k t ó r a s t a n o w i p r z e s ł a n i e p o w i e ś c i . W n i e k t ó r y c h p r z y p a d k a c h p o s t a c i są p r z e -s ł o n i ę t e p r e z e n t o w a n ą t e o r i ą i s t a j ą s i ę z b y t a b s t r a k c y j n e . O w p r z y p a d k o w y świat., w k t ó r y m i s t n i e j ą p o s z c z e g ó l n e p o s t a c i o k a -z u j e s i ę c -z ę s t o -z ł u d n y , p o n i e w a ż n i e ma p e ł n e j n i e z a l e ż n o ś c i p o m i ę d z y p i s a r k ą a w y t w o r a m i j e j f a n t a z j i . I r i s M u r d o c h s t a r a s i ę j e d n a k z a w s z e t r a k t o w a ć s w o j e p o s t a c i z o g r o m n ą s y m p a t i ą i p o c z u c i e m h u m o r u . Te n a j l e p s z e z p o -s t a c i -s t w u r z o n y c h p r z e z I r i s M u r d o c h ł ą c z ą w s o b i e d w a ś w i a t y - p o r u s z a j ą s i ę i f u n k c j o n u j ą w r e a l i a c h w s p ó ł c z e s n e j A n g l i i , a l e j e d n o c z e ś n i e m a j ą p e w i e n d o d a t k o w y , b a r d z i e j u n i w e r s a l n y , c z ę s t o s y m b o l i c z n y w y m i a r . I r is M u r d o c h z a w s z e w y c h o d z i o d i d e i , z k t ó r e j to d o p i e r o w y r a s t a j ą p o s t a c i i f a b u ł a . I c h o c i a ż s a m a p i s a r k a t w i e r d z i , że p r z e d s t a w i a n i e p o g l ą d ó w f i l o z o f i c z n y c h n i e j e s t j e j g ł ó w n y m za-j ę c i e m w p o w i e ś c i , to j e d n a k n i e s p o s ó b o p r z e ć s i ę w r a ż e n i u , że f i l o z o f i a ma o g r o m n y w p ł y w n a tę t w ó r c z o ś ć . T y p o w e d l a c a -łej t w ó r c z o ś c i I r i s M u r d o c h j e s t t a k ż e to, że a u t o r k a c z ę s t o p r z e d s t a w i a s k r a j n i e n i e m o r a l n e , o d r a ż a j ą c e p o s t a c i , k t ó r y c h z a c h o w a n i a p r z e r a ż a j ą , a l e j e d n o c z e ś n i e w m a g i c z n y s p o s ó b f a -s c y n u j ą . Z ł o j e s t p r z e d s t a w i o n e o w i e l e b a r d z i e j p r z e k o n u j ą c o n i ż d o b r o . P o s t a c i , k t ó r e m a j ą d o b r o u o s a b i a ć , są z w y k l e pa-? p i e r o w e , a i c h d z i a ł a n i a n i e p r z e k o n u j ą c e . J e s t w i ę c p o n i e k ą d p a r a d o k s e m t w ó r c z o ś c i I r i s M u r d o c h , ż e c h o ć w s w o i c h p o g l ą d a c h n i e z w y k l e w y s o k o s t a w i a d o b r o , to j e d n a k n i e p o t r a f i g o w s p o -s ó b z a d o w a l a j ą c y p r z e d -s t a w i ć . W z a k r e s i e t e c h n i k i n a r r a c j i m o ż n a r ó w n i e ż z a o b s er w o w a ć p e -w i e n r o z -w ó j . N a s t ę p u j e t u t a j j e d n a k b a r d z i e j p o s z e r z e n i e i p o g ł ę b i e n i e t e c h n i k r a c z e j n i ż i c h r a d y k a l n a z m i a n a . T e c h n i k a s a m a w s o b i e n i e i n t e r e s u j e p i s a r k i , a s t a n o w i j e d y n i e ś r o d e k d o o s i ą g n i ę c i a o k r e ś l a n e g o c e l u i i j e s t z a w s z e ś c i ś l e d o s t o s o -w a n a do t e m a t y k i . ' I r i s M u r d o c h -w d a l s z y m c i ą g u e k s p e r y m e n t u j e
i p o s z u k u j e m o ż l i w i e i d e a l n e j f o r m y p r z e k a z u . P o w i e ś c i p i s a n e w p i e r w s z e j o s o b i e są z w y k l e c i e k a w s z e z p u n k t u w i d z e n i a n a r r ac ji . Tak jak p i s a r k a z o a j e s i ę p o s z u k i w a ć n a j d o s k o n a l s z e j f o r m y d l a s w o i c h p o w i e ś c i , p o d o b n i e c i ą g l e n a n o w o p o s z u k u j e ro zwłązari t y c h n a j b a r d z i e j l u d z k i c h d y l e m a t ó w m o r a l n y c h . O b a te c z y n n i k i p r z e j r z y ś c i e o k r e ś l a j ą i n t e l i g e n c j ę a u t o r k i i o t w a r t o ś ć je j u m y -słu. I s t n i e j ą c e w a d y i b ł ę d y są p r a w d o p o d o b n i e w y n i k i e m k o n f l i -k t u p o m i ę d z y i d e a ł a m i a p r a k t y k ą w s p ó ł c z e s n e g o c z ł o w i e k a , a tak- t e p o m i ę d z y m o r a l n y m i p o g l ą d a m i I r is M u r d o c h a j e j u m i e j ę t n o -ś c i a m i n a d a n i a a r t y s t y c z n e g o k s z t a ł t u i c n z ł o ż o n o -ś c i .
