A Study Of Morality In Iris Murdoch's The Bell

This thesis studies moral standard,choices,conduct and consciousness in Iris Murdoch's The Bell.Chapter One gives a general introduction of The Bell and its author.While clarifying the objective and significance of this thesis,the theories to be applied to the analysis of the morality in the novel are also presented.Chapter Two sets out to figure out the moral standard that The Bell endorses with the author's own moral philosophy.A scrutiny of James' s and Michael's sermons and comparison of moral choices made under respective guidance reveals a moral standard attending to particular individual needs.The examination of the gap between Dora's moral reasoning and action prioritizes attention over will in face of moral dilemmas.Chapter Three aims at finding out the explicit factors causing consoling illusions for different characters with the help of Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages,Lawrence Kohlberg's moral development theory,and Carol Gilligan's ethics of care.When confronted with more complex situations,most characters in the novel perform moral failure as a result of a self-deceptive illusion.Psychological causes for the struggle to perceive reality display age and gender difference.Chapter Four explores the approaches to dispel false and selfish perception of the reality using both Murdoch's philosophical ideas and Dennis Jaffe's study of self-renewal.Whereas prayer and the appreciation of beauty constitute effective but transient approaches to rid selfish illusion,survival and growth from adversity or traumatic experience display more lasting influence.