LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 25:2 February 2025
ISSN 1930-2940

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Possessive Love and Psychic Disorders:
A Psychological Analysis of Characters in Iris Murdoch’s The Sea, The Sea

D. Mohamed Raffic and Dr. A. Ajmal Khaan

Abstract

Iris Murdoch's The Sea, The Sea delves into the complexities of possessive love and its psychological ramifications through the lens of its protagonist, Charles Arrowby. This paper examines how Charles's obsessive fixation on his childhood love, Hartley, reveals deep-seated psychic disorders and emotional immaturity. Despite retiring to a secluded coastal home to reflect on life, Charles becomes consumed by his desire to reclaim Hartley, disregarding her autonomy and marital bond with Ben. His actions, driven by narcissism and inability to relinquish control, expose the destructive nature of possessive love. Hartley, in contrast, embodies resilience and purity, remaining devoted to Ben despite Charles's manipulative attempts to disrupt their relationship. The novel also explores the themes of trauma, self-centredness, and the dichotomy between appearance and reality, drawing parallels to Shakespeare's The Tempest. Through a psychoanalytic approach, this study highlights how Murdoch critiques the egotism inherent in romantic aspirations and societal neglect of emotional maturity. The characters' inner conflicts and transformations underscore the enduring relevance of Murdoch's work to understanding human relationships.

Keywords: The Sea, The Sea, Iris Murdoch, Possessive love, psychic disorders, emotional immaturity, narcissism, autonomy, trauma, self-centredness, dichotomy, psychoanalytic approach, Shakespearean echoes.

Introduction

Iris Murdoch, one of the most celebrated authors and philosophers of the 20th century, carved a niche for herself with her intricate psychological novels that seamlessly blend philosophical musings, comedic elements, and profound explorations of human relationships. Her works often delve into the complexities of love, morality, and the human psyche, offering readers a window into the inner lives of their characters. Among her many acclaimed novels, The Sea, The Sea stand out as masterpieces that encapsulate her unique narrative style and philosophical depth. Published in 1978, the novel earned Murdoch the prestigious Booker Prize, cementing her status as a literary giant. As Allan Abraham Malayil notes in his scholarly analysis, "Murdoch focuses on one individual, the renowned actor Charles Arrowby, whose interior life is troubled by his numerous relationships" (160). This focus on Charles Arrowby, a retired theatre director who retreats in a coastal mansion named Shruff End, serves as the foundation for an exploration of themes such as possessive love, emotional immaturity, and the dichotomy between appearance and reality. Through Charles’s obsessive fixation on his childhood love, Hartley and Murdoch critique the egotism inherent in romantic aspirations and societal neglect of emotional maturity.

At the heart of The Sea, The Sea lies the tension between appearance and reality, a theme Murdoch frequently revisits in her works. Charles Arrowby, the protagonist, embodies this tension as he embarks on what he perceives as a journey of self-discovery. Upon retiring from public life, Charles resolves to isolate himself in Shruff End, where he plans to reflect on his life and time. He likens his endeavours to Prospero's relinquishment of magic in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a connection Murdoch deliberately draws to underscore the novel’s exploration of power and transformation.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

D. Mohamed Raffic Research Scholar, PG and Research Department of English Jamal Mohamed College (A) (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University), Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India dmraffic1987@gmail.com

Dr. A. Ajmal Khaan
Associate Professor of English, PG and Research Department of English
Jamal Mohamed College (A), (Affiliated to Bharathidasan University)
Tiruchirappalli. Tamil Nadu, India
Email: 1967ajmal@gmail.com
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