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Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science

ISSN Online: 2576-0548 Downloads: 803712 Total View: 5310394
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Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.027

On Iris Murdoch’s Literary Interpretation of Her Moral Philosophy: A Case Study of The Bell

Li Hong

1School of Foreign Languages, Anshan Normal University, Anshan 114007, Liaoning, China.

2School of Critical Studies, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.

3School of Philosophy, Liaoning University, Shenyang 110036, Liaoning, China.

*Corresponding author: Li Hong

Published: June 12,2025

Abstract

As one of the most influential writers and philosophers in British literature in the twentieth century, Iris Murdoch’s relationship between her novel writing and moral philosophy has always been a topic of debate among critics. This article interprets Murdoch’s fourth novel, The Bell expounds the writer’s moral philosophy that integrates metaphysics and empiricism in a literary manner. In the novel, the experimental life on Imber Court, which lies between the life in Imber Abbey and the secular life in London, represents Murdoch’s attempt to reconcile the two moral concepts. In terms of character portrayal, the critique of conventional type and neurotic type characters, as well as the depiction of those who bravely strive between responsibility and spiritual transformation, reflects Murdoch’s efforts to strike a balance between the moral concepts of metaphysics and empiricism. A literary interpretation of Iris Murdoch’s The Bell helps readers better understand Murdoch’s intentions as a writer and philosopher, as well as her approach to the relationship between literature and philosophy. The philosophical tendencies evident in her novels align with postmodern ethical concepts, reflecting a unique modern ethical perspective that sets Murdoch apart from her contemporaries.

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How to cite this paper

On Iris Murdoch's Literary Interpretation of Her Moral Philosophy: A Case Study of The Bell

How to cite this paper: Li Hong. (2025) On Iris Murdoch's Literary Interpretation of Her Moral Philosophy: A Case Study of The Bell. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science9(5), 1027-1034.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2025.05.027