A Fairly Honourable Defeat
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A Fairly Honourable Defeatis a novel by the British writer and philosopher Iris Murdoch.
[edit] Plot summary
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Julius steals love letters which Rupert sent to Hilda, alters them slightly, and sends them to Morgan. He sends love letters which Morgan sent to him, to Rupert. Tallis shows he is willing to welcome his wife's return to him, but refuses to take any action to force the issue. Julius also seeks to break the relationship of Axel and Simon.
[edit] Characters in "A Fairly Honourable Defeat"
- Julius King, academic, and concentration camp survivor
- Rupert, his former colleague, a senior civil servant writing a book on living morally
- Hilda, Rupert's wife
- Simon, Hilda's brother
- Axel, Rupert's colleague and Simon's partner
- Morgan, Julius's rejected lover and Hilda's sister
- Tallis, Morgan's estranged husband
[edit] Major themes
The "defeat" of the title may be that of Tallis, failing to renew his relationship with his wife. Rather than a wicked or satanic character, Julius is a loki like mischief-maker. Iris Murdoch puts realistic characters in contrived situations, and shows how their moral views and understandings affect their lives.
