Literatura

Ángela García


THE ITALIAN GIRL by Iris Murdoch

Plot: In this novel all the events are relevant and each one has an effect on the next. Each event leads naturally to the next although; this novel is full of unexpected happenings that make the end of the novel odd and surprising.

All the conflicts are moral and emotional because Edmund, the protagonist, gets involved and seeing himselfas an integral part of everyone else's problem, if not the means to a solution. Edmund is a conservative man and he has to face problems that make him scandalize and he has to pass over his moral judgments and believes in order to help his family. Also, through the novel Edmund is in a mixture of feelings which he has to make clear if they want to survive.

Moreover, the conflicts are managainst himself, because as Edmund every one in the family is unhappy being as they are, doing the things that they do and living with the people they do. That’s why, all them look for love and satisfaction in different places, with different people. They always show their want and need to get rid of the consequences of their past bad decisions, trying to change their lives and attitudes.

Theconflicts of the novel start when Edmund Narraway returns to his family home in the north of England, for the funeral of his mother, Lydia. He finds many things have changed such as the house, the family, his niece who is now a beautiful teenager and Otto, his brother, who has alcohol problems. However, the only thing that seems has not changed is the housekeeper “the Italian girl”.

Otto, drunkduring the funeral ceremony, starts giggling, and has to be taken outside by David Levkin who is Otto’s apprentice. After the ceremony, Isabel, Otto's wife, attempts to involve Edmund in her small and frustrated life. At first, He refuses and returns to the house with the firm idea of taking the next morning’s first train in order to go back to his apartment.

Nevertheless, Isabel, Otto andFlora all implore Edmund to stay and help them, each for a different reason. In each case, Edmund seems at first reluctant to get involved, and aware of his own impotence against their troubles. However, Edmund finds himself fascinated by Otto's daughter, Flora, who seems thrust in Edmund. It is finally Flora who gives Edmund a real reason to stay. She tells him that she is pregnant by anotherstudent, and has only him to rely on for assistance.
One by one, each character in the house involves Edmund in a series of confessions and discoveries. The climax of the novel stars when Edmund try to help every one but he realizes he is not so useful.
Through the story Edmund learns that Otto is having an affair with Elsa, David's sister; Isabel and her daughter Flora have both had affairs withDavid, and it is he who made Flora pregnant. 'Maggie', the Italian girl, whose actual name is Maria Magistretti and who looked after Otto and Edmund, had been having a lesbian affair with Lydia, their mother. As a result, she is the sole beneficiary of Lydia's will.

After all these 'secret' relationships have been revealed, Otto sends David and Elsa Levkin packing. Elsa reacts by setting fireto herself and the house and David leaves the house.
The fire and Elsa's death seem to have had an effect on everyone. Isabel finds her independence and leaves Otto. She, really glad, announces that she is pregnant by David. Flora, who ran away from home, now returns to look after her father Otto. Maggie generously agrees to share the inheritance equally with Edmund and Otto, and allows Otto tokeep the house.

At the end, Edmund discovers that he has always been in love with Maria and she, conveniently, has always been in love with him. The book ends with them preparing to travel to Rome.

The setting of the novel is essential because it shows how Edmund finally finds peace in the same place where he has escaped from.

Characterization: There is not any especial protagonist or...