"The Sea, The Sea" by Iris Murdoch (1978): A Review

Iris Murdoch’s The Sea, The Sea (1978) is a rich and complex novel that explores themes of love, obsession, power, and self-deception through the life of its narrator, Charles Arrowby. Set in a secluded coastal retreat, the novel takes the reader on an emotional and psychological journey as Charles, a retired theater director, confronts his past relationships and his own troubled psyche. With its intricate narrative and philosophical depth, The Sea, The Sea is both a darkly comic exploration of human nature and an insightful commentary on the illusions people create about themselves and others.

Plot Summary

The novel follows Charles Arrowby, a famous and self-absorbed theater director who retreats to a house by the sea in order to escape the complexities of his former life in London. Having recently retired from the theater world, Charles seeks solitude and contemplation. He believes that by removing himself from the distractions of society, he will be able to find clarity and peace. Instead, he becomes entangled in a series of emotional conflicts that force him to confront his own delusions.

While at his coastal retreat, Charles becomes obsessed with his former lover, Hartley, whom he had once been deeply in love with during their youth. Hartley, now married and living a quiet life, becomes the focal point of Charles’ reawakened desires and fantasies. His obsessive attempts to rekindle their past relationship lead him into increasingly bizarre and troubling situations, including clashes with other residents of the house, including the eccentric and morally ambiguous figures who populate his life.

As Charles’ obsession with Hartley intensifies, the narrative explores his relationships with the various characters who become involved in his self-destructive quest. The novel delves into themes of romantic love, jealousy, power dynamics, and the extent to which individuals deceive themselves in order to maintain a sense of control and self-importance. Throughout the novel, the sea itself serves as a powerful metaphor for the emotional and psychological turmoil that Charles experiences, symbolizing both the uncontrollable forces of nature and the deep, turbulent emotions that lie beneath the surface of his self-absorbed existence.

Themes and Analysis

1. Self-Delusion and Obsession

A central theme in The Sea, The Sea is the idea of self-delusion, particularly as it relates to romantic obsession. Charles is portrayed as a man deeply trapped within his own illusions, particularly about love and identity. His belief that he can recapture his past love with Hartley, despite the many years that have passed and the changes in their lives, is a reflection of his inability to accept the realities of his own life and relationships.

Charles’ obsession with Hartley is characterized by a profound sense of possessiveness and idealization. He creates a fantasy of their past relationship, seeing it as something pure and transcendent, but in doing so, he refuses to acknowledge the complexities and imperfections that defined it. His actions, motivated by his desire to reclaim a lost ideal, ultimately reveal his inability to understand love as it truly is—imperfect, evolving, and often fleeting. Through Charles’ obsession, Murdoch critiques the tendency of individuals to project unrealistic expectations onto others, particularly in matters of love, and the destructive consequences that result from such delusions.

2. The Role of Power and Control in Relationships

Another significant theme in The Sea, The Sea is the exploration of power dynamics within human relationships. Charles, as a successful and influential theater director, is used to being in control, and his retreat to the sea is an attempt to impose control over his life and his emotions. However, his obsessive pursuit of Hartley, and his interactions with other characters in the novel, reveal his inability to relinquish control in the face of complex, unpredictable human emotions.

Throughout the novel, power and control manifest in various forms, from Charles’ attempt to dominate Hartley’s feelings to his manipulation of the people around him. The relationships in the novel are often marked by an imbalance of power, with characters struggling to assert their autonomy or to escape the influence of others. Murdoch’s portrayal of power in relationships is both subtle and profound, revealing how individuals use love, guilt, and self-importance to maintain control over others and avoid confronting their own vulnerabilities.

3. The Sea as a Symbol of the Unconscious and Emotional Turmoil

The sea is a recurring motif in the novel, symbolizing the depths of Charles’ unconscious and the emotional turbulence that lies beneath the surface of his life. The retreat by the sea becomes a space where Charles can no longer escape his inner turmoil. While he initially seeks the sea’s calmness and solitude, he soon finds that it brings to the surface unresolved conflicts, repressed desires, and deep-seated emotional pain.

The sea represents both the uncontrollable forces of nature and the complexity of human emotions—vast, unpredictable, and often overwhelming. It mirrors the stormy emotional landscape of Charles’ mind and highlights the tension between his desire for control and the chaos of his inner life. The sea’s power to drown and consume echoes Charles’ own internal conflict, as he is pulled deeper into his obsession with Hartley and his self-deception.

4. The Limits of Artistic Identity and the Theater of Life

Charles Arrowby, as a former theater director, is a man whose life has been shaped by the artifice of performance. His retreat to the seaside is an attempt to escape the false constructs of the theater world and find a sense of authenticity. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes clear that Charles cannot fully escape the theatrical nature of his own identity. His interactions with others, his self-absorption, and his view of life as a drama that he must direct, all contribute to his inability to engage with life and love in a genuine way.

Murdoch’s exploration of the “theater of life” in The Sea, The Sea critiques the way in which individuals perform roles and create facades in their daily lives. Charles’ need for control and his desire to live according to an idealized version of reality are rooted in his artistic sensibilities, where life is something to be directed, manipulated, and performed. His failure to relinquish this perspective leads to his eventual downfall, suggesting that true fulfillment comes not from manipulation or performance but from acceptance of the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of life.

5. Isolation and the Search for Meaning

Isolation is a key theme in The Sea, The Sea, both physically and emotionally. Charles’ retreat to the seaside is not just a physical escape, but a manifestation of his inner need to distance himself from society and his past. Throughout the novel, he isolates himself from others, believing that he can find clarity and meaning in solitude. However, this isolation ultimately leads to his emotional unraveling, as he is forced to confront his own flaws, desires, and inability to connect with others.

The theme of isolation is also explored through the experiences of other characters, such as Hartley, who is emotionally distant and has her own complex past. Through these characters, Murdoch examines the human need for connection, and the consequences of cutting oneself off from others in an attempt to find personal meaning.

Literary Style

Iris Murdoch’s writing in The Sea, The Sea is marked by her distinctive use of third-person omniscient narration, which allows the reader to delve deeply into Charles’ inner world while also offering glimpses into the lives and thoughts of other characters. Her prose is both rich and cerebral, filled with philosophical reflections and emotional nuance. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing Murdoch to develop complex characters and relationships while also exploring the deeper themes of self-deception, obsession, and emotional turmoil.

Murdoch’s characterization of Charles is particularly striking—he is both sympathetic and repellent, a deeply flawed individual who is nevertheless compelling in his search for meaning. The novel’s tone shifts between darkly comic, tragic, and introspective, with moments of philosophical insight and deep emotional reflection.

Reception and Legacy

Upon its publication, The Sea, The Sea was met with widespread critical acclaim, winning the Booker Prize in 1978. It is often regarded as one of Murdoch’s finest works, showcasing her ability to blend psychological depth with philosophical inquiry. The novel has since become a staple of modernist literature, praised for its complex characters, its exploration of existential themes, and its vivid portrayal of emotional and moral struggles.

The novel’s exploration of obsession, self-deception, and the complexities of human relationships continues to resonate with readers today. Murdoch’s ability to weave together personal and philosophical themes, while maintaining a rich and engaging narrative, ensures that The Sea, The Sea remains a significant and influential work in contemporary literature.

Conclusion

The Sea, The Sea is a brilliant and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human desire, obsession, and self-deception. Through the character of Charles Arrowby, Iris Murdoch explores the tension between the search for meaning and the dangers of living in the illusion of control and idealized love. The novel’s philosophical depth, rich characterizations, and exploration of isolation, obsession, and personal growth make it a profound and compelling read. Murdoch’s masterful narrative technique and exploration of the emotional and psychological aspects of human life ensure that The Sea, The Sea remains a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers with its emotional and intellectual depth.