The Tragedy Of Miss Jean Brodie

In the history of modern British literature, Muriel Spark is a very important figure. Being a thoughtful women writer, she has been focused on the existence of modern human through all her life, and women's living condition particularly. Her concept of modern people's existential problems can be found between her lines. As her most famous work, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie has received close attention since the day it comes out.In this thesis Sartre's existentialistic theories of freedom, responsibility and alienation will be illustrated to help interpret the heroine of this novel, exploring the source of her tragedy. Sartre defines existentialism as human existence, distinct to the existence of other beings. Human existence is the centre and at the same time other beings must be considered. The central meaning in this is that only through free choices that human being can build himself what he is. And by free choices Sartre here doesn't simply mean choosing for oneself but also mean choosing for all of mankind. Taking things a step further, it is responsibility. Miss Jean Brodie is a representative women figure of her time after the war. She starts to consider the meaning of her life. All through the life she has been trying to redefine her role as a traditional woman and integrate her self. But she has never discerned the relationship between freedom and responsibility and finally it leads to her tragic ending. Besides, this thesis also explores Sartre's view on alienation: man is in constant alienation, while fighting against all the ways that will strip his indivisualality. Brodie's behaviour is opposite to the contemporary social consuetude; she finds it hard to be accepted by society. She works hard for a proper position in society but her efforts end in vain. So alienation is another cause of Brodie's tragedy.Spark has never openly acknowleged any Existential influenceon on her writing. The present author is not intending to prove that Spark is an existentialist. No matter what ways a writer adopts to organize his work,our critical approaches are independent. This thesis is actually an experimental try to use Sartrean existentialism interpreting Spark, to see the progression of modern women's self-integrity from Spark's view and find the true nature of human existence. Only if we understand this, we can embrace the challenge from reality.