Iris Murdoch’s The Black Prince (BP), which was published in 1973, is considered her most successful and brilliant novel by her readers as well as by her critics. Richard Todd describes it as her “closest approach to the ‘post-modernist’ novel”, which is especially in the context of narrative unreliability highly interesting and complex. However, the central theme of this paper concerns the relation between the two writers Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin.
It will be discussed which function is ascribed to this comparison of the two characters in The Black Prince and to what extent the frequently quoted “artist-saint contrast” of Murdoch’s works is applicable to this constellation.
Therefore, the first chapter is concerned with Bradley Pearson’s account of himself and Arnold Baffin as writers, and to a certain extent with the question of Bradley’s narrative reliability as well as – and this is essential – with Arnold’s and Bradley’s different definitions of the art of writing. The relation between Arnold and Bradley, which is already a topic of the following chapter, will be particularly examined in the last chapter where the focus will be on the discussion about the (hypothetical) artist-saint contrast within The Black Prince.
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Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Bradley Pearson's account of himself and Arnold Baffin as writers
- 2.1 For the sake of art
- 3. Questioning the artist-saint contrast
- 4. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the portrayal of writers Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin in Iris Murdoch's The Black Prince, analyzing their contrasting approaches to art and exploring the applicability of the "artist-saint contrast" to their relationship. The analysis focuses on Bradley's narrative reliability and how his self-perception as a writer shapes his depiction of himself and Arnold.
- Narrative unreliability in The Black Prince
- Contrasting definitions of art between Bradley and Arnold
- The role of personal experience in artistic creation
- Exploration of the "artist-saint contrast" in Murdoch's work
- The function of comparison between Bradley and Arnold in the novel
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the analysis of Iris Murdoch's The Black Prince, highlighting its status as a highly regarded and complex novel, particularly in the context of narrative unreliability. The chapter introduces the central theme of the paper: the comparison between the two writers, Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin, and its function within the novel. It also previews the examination of the applicability of the "artist-saint contrast" to these characters, laying out the structure of the analysis, with the focus being on Bradley's narrative and the contrasting views of art.
2. Bradley Pearson's account of himself and Arnold Baffin as writers: This chapter delves into Bradley Pearson's perspective on himself and Arnold Baffin as writers. It acknowledges that the reader's understanding of both characters is filtered through Bradley's subjective narrative, which involves direct and indirect comparisons. The chapter highlights that these comparisons aren't solely based on personality but also on an abstract level of artistic "quality" in relation to true art. A crucial element is the presentation of Bradley's theories on art, which are suggested to reflect Iris Murdoch's own views. The chapter then moves into a discussion of Bradley's concept of art, juxtaposed with Arnold's contrasting perspective, paving the way for a comparative analysis in subsequent chapters.
3. Questioning the artist-saint contrast: [This section is omitted as instructed to avoid spoilers and because it is expected to contain major conclusions.]
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Iris Murdoch, The Black Prince, narrative unreliability, Bradley Pearson, Arnold Baffin, artist-saint contrast, art, writing, self-perception, comparison, personal experience, subjective narrative.
Iris Murdoch's *The Black Prince*: A Comprehensive FAQ
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of writers Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin in Iris Murdoch's The Black Prince. It examines their contrasting approaches to art and explores the applicability of the "artist-saint contrast" to their relationship, focusing on Bradley's narrative reliability and how his self-perception as a writer shapes his depiction of himself and Arnold.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include narrative unreliability in The Black Prince, contrasting definitions of art between Bradley and Arnold, the role of personal experience in artistic creation, the exploration of the "artist-saint contrast" in Murdoch's work, and the function of the comparison between Bradley and Arnold within the novel.
What is covered in the introduction?
The introduction sets the stage for the analysis, highlighting the novel's complexity and the central theme of comparing Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin. It previews the examination of the "artist-saint contrast" and outlines the structure of the analysis, focusing on Bradley's narrative and contrasting views of art.
What does the chapter on Bradley Pearson and Arnold Baffin cover?
This chapter delves into Bradley Pearson's perspective on himself and Arnold Baffin as writers. It acknowledges the reader's understanding is filtered through Bradley's subjective narrative, including direct and indirect comparisons. It highlights that these comparisons aren't just personality-based but also concern artistic "quality" in relation to true art. Bradley's theories on art, potentially reflecting Iris Murdoch's views, are presented and contrasted with Arnold's perspective.
What is the purpose of comparing Bradley and Arnold?
The comparison between Bradley and Arnold serves as a central analytical tool to understand their contrasting artistic philosophies and the complexities of Murdoch's narrative. It reveals different approaches to art and the role of personal experience in shaping artistic creation. The comparison also helps to explore the applicability of the "artist-saint" contrast in the novel.
What is the "artist-saint contrast"?
The paper explores the applicability of the "artist-saint contrast" to the characters of Bradley and Arnold. While the specifics are omitted to avoid spoilers, it's a key element in analyzing their contrasting approaches to art and life.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include: Iris Murdoch, The Black Prince, narrative unreliability, Bradley Pearson, Arnold Baffin, artist-saint contrast, art, writing, self-perception, comparison, personal experience, subjective narrative.
What is the overall structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, a chapter focusing on Bradley Pearson's perspective, a chapter (partially omitted in this preview) questioning the artist-saint contrast, and a conclusion (not included in this preview). The paper utilizes chapter summaries to provide a concise overview of its content.
Is this a complete version of the paper?
No, this is a comprehensive language preview that includes the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. Some sections, particularly the chapter questioning the artist-saint contrast, are omitted.
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- M.A. Theresa Schmidt (Autor:in), 2006, The state of the writer in Iris Murdoch’s "The Black Prince", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/122873
