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Iris Murdoch's "Learning Protagonists" : Toward Contingency, Responsibility And Reality, Patrice J. Coleman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For over thirty years Iris Murdoch has continuously provided entertaining and thought-provoking novels. This prolific Irish-born English novelist has also sparked contention and controversy. She is accused of overtly manipulating her characters, placing them in extreme and implausible situations, sacrificing the realism which she admires and espouses. The world of literary criticism remains divided regarding their evaluation of Murdoch's intentions and achievements. While some steadfastly deny her a place among writers of the first rank, others proclaim her the greatest author writing in England today. Because she was born in Dublin and raised and educated in. London, both Ireland and …