THE PROBLEM OF MORAL CHOICE IN IRIS MURDOCH'S NOVELS

Abstract

Iris Murdoch's work has repeatedly been the subject of academic research, with researchers particularly attracted to the multi-layered nature of her works. Scholars analyze not only the philosophical subtext, but also the structure, genre, and symbolism. In other words, she does not simply use philosophical concepts in her texts, but creates an artistic space where these concepts can live, argue, and even fail. This article deals with the problems of moral choice in an absurd world based on Iris Murdoch's novels “The Sandcastle” and “The Bell”. The purpose of this research is to outline the problems of moral choice in an absurd world on the examples of Iris Murdoch's novels “The Sandcastle” and “The Bell”. It is found out that the writer operates with such basic concepts as freedom as responsibility, the dialogical nature of consciousness, and moral non-authoritarianism. In artistic form Murdoch consistently defends the idea that morality is a way of seeing the world where truth is an experience of ethical deepening. She does not offer a system — she writes as a person who is confused but has not lost her dignity. In the process of analyzing the works, it is clarified that the writer raises issues of fear of the truth, dishonesty to oneself, responsibility for others, and the impossibility of making ideal and moral choices. The problem of escape is observed in both novels: escape from duty, from love, from understanding oneself and one's needs. Despite different plots, both novels constantly touch one idea: morality is not about rules, but about presence, responsibility, and honesty with oneself. The author demonstrates that for highly spiritual actions one does not need to be a religious or "ethically decent" person, honesty with oneself is enough. Therefore, the characters are often strange, confused, even comical, but this is what makes them authentic.