Iris Murdoch, The Bell

Tammy Grimshaw (Universidad de Jaen)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1958

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

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One of Iris Murdoch’s most successful novels,

The Bell

portrays well-developed characters living in a realistic fictional world that is rich in symbolism. The novel’s success is perhaps owed to its depiction of certain philosophical and aesthetic concepts that Murdoch also explores in her non-fiction, namely the tensions between moral vision and human selfishness, sexuality and spirituality, “the artist” and “the saint”. Even though

The Bell

illustrates tragic events, a strong undercurrent of comedy heightens the drama of its key scenes.

The Bell begins by describing the life and times of the flighty Dora Greenfield, who has recently left her demanding husband, Paul. Vacillating between periods of intense freedom and moments of all-consuming guilt when away from Paul, Dora

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2470 words

Citation: Grimshaw, Tammy. "The Bell". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 28 December 2006 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1474, accessed 20 April 2024.]

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