| Iris Murdoch is a famous British post-war novelist and philosopher.She created a lot of works in her lifetime and won many awards.In 1987,she was made a British Lady for her outstanding literary and philosophical achievements.In 2008,Time named Murdoch as “one of Britain’s fifty greatest writers since 1945”.Murdoch’s masterpiece The Unicorn created in 1963 incorporates a strong Gothic style.Furthermore,she has made her own exploration of human nature,rich imagination and the pursuit of human survival dilemmas and spiritual dilemmas in many ways.This novel has always been popular to be talked about,and it is also a very meticulous work studied by literary critics from all over the world.The research mainly focuses on the analysis of the Hannah’s survival dilemma and marginal status.But it lacks in-depth interpretation of the characters in the work as independent living individuals in a state of despair,the pursuit of freedom.Under Kierkegaard’s existentialism,the analysis of individual freedom centered on the spiritual nature which opens up the analysis of the surviving individual.While revealing from the “despair” level that man would rather be another than a self,and he tries to awaken individual’s paralyzed spirit and re-enter survival.Iris Murdoch’s philosophical thought was heavily influenced by Kierkegaard and Sartre’s existentialism.The creation of The Unicorn is dedicated to exploring the good and evil of human beings,moral dilemmas and unconscious forces,as well as the focus and in-depth exploration of the inner life of individuals.The Unicorn is a reflection of people desperate in the dilemma of life and it strives for freedom.Using Kierkegaard’s existentialism to interpret of The Unicorn has enlightening significance for liberating modern people to face the pressure of life.Furthermore,it could also make people out of the dilemma of inner repression,find the real self,and embark on the road to freedom. |
