An Interpretation Of The Black Prince From The Perspective Of Kierkegaard’s Existentialism

British writer Iris Murdoch is a world-class novelist,philosopher and critic in the second half of the 20th century.Her literary works imply the exploration about art,morality and philosophy.Her later work The Black Prince is influenced by Kierkegaard’s existentialism and also shows her deep thinking towards existence and self,namely,a profound thinking towards people with people,people with destiny,people with evilness,contingency and necessity such series of philosophical problems.These ideas also correspond with Kierkegaard’s concept that the existence and development of people follow the law of transition from the aesthetic stage,and the ethical stage to the religious stage.This novel revolves around Bradley,narrating that he imagines he will live in solitude and create authentic artistic works,only to be interrupted by a series of coincidences.This thesis combines Kierkegaard’s existentialism to elaborate that Bradley gradually gets rid of the self-centeredness,starts to concern about others and finally realizes the self-sublimation due to the true love.The thesis also interprets Priscilla’s marriage,the love of Rachel and Arnold,the friendship of Bradley and Arnold and the interdependent relationship between Julian and Bradley as well as the intricate intrapersonal changes of every individual.The whole thesis tries to explore how the individuals with lonely existence and development confront the absurd and empty social environment and confusing living state.It talks about how the individuals choose freely,take responsibility,pursue morality and goodness,finally win freedom and walk on the path of true self after experiencing external conflicts and internal predicaments.As a life attitude and a world view,Kierkegaard’s existentialism helps the modem people who are lost in the self find the exit and life direction in the living environment full of crises,indifference and lovelessness.This thesis also aims to gain insight into the inner world of the characters and provide guidance for the search for the value of self-existence and the solution to the meaning of life,thus making people obtain real love and happiness.Chapter One gives a brief introduction of Iris Murdoch and her masterpiece The Black Prince,the literature review at home and abroad,and the aim of promoting the academic research and meaning of guiding the realistic life.Subsequently it concentrates on the implication and development of the existentialism,highlighting Kierkegaard’s existentialism and its influence on the literature,especially on Iris Murdoch’s literary works.In Chapter Two,it is focused on the living predicament that Priscilla,Rachel and Bradley confront,including their absurd life experience and lonely inner state.It embodies Kierkegaard’s core concept of "individual" and the "unique individual" emphasized in Kierkegaard’s existentialism how to deal with the inner alienation and dissimilation,numbness and outburst in the complex living environment.In Chapter Three,through analyzing the "self ’ of Julian and Bradley,the road of losing the self then winning the self can be found.This thesis talks about Kierkegaard’s concept of"self" and the road of pursuing self.The self shows weak characteristics.People should find the way to gradually eliminate the self and concern about others.Eventually the true self will return.The following part is a conclusion of this thesis.It summarizes the experiences of the individual and growth of the self for realizing the truth of love and goodness.