All human beings have a deep need for necessity in their lives. We want to know why we exist, we want to understand the world and its secrets, and we want to know our place in the world. Concepts like religion and philosophy are concerned with those questions and try to provide answers to them. Nevertheless, there are still no satisfying explanations. This is due to the fact that “our actual lived experience has no form or unity in itself, but is full of contingent rubble, accident, and unsystematized detail which may resist our attempts at unity” (Antonaccio & Schweiker, Human Goodness 111). As our world is contingent, it cannot be completely understood. Consequently, we should accept its contingency instead of denying it by trying to find an explanation to everything.
The stress ratio between contingency and necessity is also the theme of Iris Murdoch’s first novel Under the Net. Throughout the novel, the protagonist Jake Donaghue searches for his own identity and for a master theory which is able to explain the world (cf. Porter, Leitmotiv 379). In the end, he realizes that he has to change his attitude towards contingency.
In the following, I will try to find reasons for the change of Jake’s attitude, and I will describe the consequences of this change. In order to be able to do this, I will first provide a definition of the term ‘contingency’ and place it in the context of philosophy in chapter 2. Afterwards, I will explain some essential aspects of contingency in the novel in chapter 3. In chapter 4, I will have a look at Jake’s changing attitude towards contingency in the course of the novel in order to, finally, be able to find reasons for the change and to describe its consequences in chapter 5 and 6.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition and Theoretical Background of ‘Contingency’
3. Contingency in Under the Net
3.1 Contingency and Individuals
3.2 Contingency and Language
3.3 Contingency and Art
4. Jake Donaghue’s Changing Attitude towards Contingency
4.1 Jake’s Attitude at the Beginning
4.2 Contingency in Jake’s Life
4.3 Jake’s Change
5. Reasons for the Change in Jake’s Attitude
5.1 The Influence of Other Characters
5.1.1 Hugo’s Influence
5.1.2 Anna’s Influence
5.1.3 Jean Pierre’s Influence
5.1.4 Dave’s Influence
5.2 Misinterpretations
6. Consequences of the Change
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The academic paper investigates the struggle between the human desire for logical necessity and the reality of contingency as presented in Iris Murdoch’s novel Under the Net. It explores how the protagonist, Jake Donaghue, undergoes a psychological and philosophical transformation by moving from a state of denying randomness to accepting the contingent nature of the world and the individuality of others.
- The philosophical definition and context of "contingency."
- The role of contingency in the form and content of the novel.
- The impact of interpersonal relationships on the protagonist's identity.
- The limitation of language in representing contingent reality.
- The process of overcoming internal "neurosis" and achieving personal growth.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Contingency and Individuals
As one expects against the background of Murdoch’s theory, the characters of Under the Net are all contingent. Moreover, she believes that the characters of a novel must be constructed as if their characteristics were a part of their personality instead of being imposed by the author (cf. Culley, Theory and Practice 341). In other words, not all characteristics and actions of a character can be explained in the context of the novel’s plot. This is clearly the case for the characters of Under the Net.
As I have already mentioned before, Murdoch emphasises the importance for an individual to respect the contingency of other persons. “Thus the central moral imperative of her work is the imperative of unselfing, the overcoming of the self centeredness that prevents us from loving others as separate existences” (Gordon, Fables of Unselfing 7). This imperative of unselfing also applies for the characters of Under the Net. At the beginning, Jake Donaghue is, however, not able to comply with it. He has a permanent urge to decode the personalities of other persons (cf. for example Murdoch, UTN 14). According to Sartre, this urge is a characteristic of humans (cf. Murdoch, The Sublime and the Beautiful Revisited 255). In this respect, Jake can be seen as a representative of humankind.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the human need for necessity versus the reality of contingency and introduces the protagonist Jake Donaghue's quest for identity.
2. Definition and Theoretical Background of ‘Contingency’: Provides a philosophical definition of the term, tracing its origins from Aristotle through Husserl to Jean-Paul Sartre.
3. Contingency in Under the Net: Analyzes how contingency manifests in the novel’s structure, its relation to individual characters, language, and the art of writing.
4. Jake Donaghue’s Changing Attitude towards Contingency: Examines Jake's initial hatred of contingency and documents his gradual shift towards accepting the unpredictable nature of his existence.
5. Reasons for the Change in Jake’s Attitude: Explores how interactions with key characters like Hugo, Anna, and Dave, alongside repeated personal misinterpretations, trigger Jake's transformation.
6. Consequences of the Change: Details how Jake overcomes his writing block and internal tensions by finally accepting reality as it is.
7. Conclusion: Summarizes how Jake successfully finds a balance between contingency and necessity, ultimately developing a new identity as a writer.
Keywords
Iris Murdoch, Under the Net, Contingency, Necessity, Jake Donaghue, Existentialism, Philosophy, Identity, Unselfing, Language, Narrative, Jean-Paul Sartre, Literature, Human Nature, Reality
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
This paper examines the central theme of "contingency" in Iris Murdoch's debut novel, Under the Net, focusing specifically on how the protagonist, Jake Donaghue, struggles with the unpredictable nature of reality versus his desire for logical explanation.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The main themes include the philosophical relationship between contingency and human identity, the limitations of language in capturing reality, the influence of social pressures on the individual, and the moral concept of "unselfing."
What is the primary goal of the research?
The primary goal is to explain why Jake Donaghue undergoes a radical change in attitude towards the contingent world and to detail the consequences of this shift on his professional and personal life.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a literary analysis method, utilizing established philosophical concepts—specifically existentialist thought—to interpret the protagonist’s development and the narrative structure of the novel.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body covers the philosophical background of contingency, its manifestation in the novel's plot and form, the influence of supporting characters, and the protagonist’s evolving self-awareness through his misinterpretations of the people around him.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Iris Murdoch, Contingency, Identity, Existentialism, Unselfing, and Narrative, reflecting both the literary source material and the philosophical framework.
How does Jake's relationship with Hugo Belfounder influence his growth?
Hugo serves as a mentor figure whose belief in the "particularity" of things challenges Jake’s desire for a universal master theory, ultimately forcing Jake to realize that language cannot fully capture contingent reality.
Why is the "thundersheet" in the theatre a significant symbol?
The thundersheet represents Jake's desire to control the "noise" of life. His initial inability to strike it shows his fear of contingency, while his final act of shaking it symbolizes his acceptance of chaos and the abandonment of his search for artificial order.
- Citar trabajo
- Saskia Bachner (Autor), 2008, Contingency in Iris Murdoch's "Under the Net", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/114252
