The Green Knight by Iris Murdoch

This was the first book of Iris Murdoch’s that I read and might be the last. For some reason, Iris Murdoch’s quotes appeared quite a few times within one week (perhaps it was her birthday some day that week) on some Facebook page on literature that I had subscribed to. The book was quite a disappointment set in London among a group of friends and family. Almost like a soap opera, everyone had slept with almost everyone else, and the ones whom they had not slept with, they were deeply in love with. As always, spoiler alert. Stop here if you don’t want to know any part of the story.

Not too far into the book, a fairly interesting part does turn up. There are two brothers Lucas and Clement. Lucas was initially adopted by their parents who had given up hope on having their own child. But after several years, they do indeed have their own – Clement. Initially, Lucas was the focus of all their love and attention but once Clement was born, the parents apparently diverted most of their affection on their real son. A typical adoption jealousy. However, the brothers maintain a very strong bond but there was always an abusive relationship between them. Lucas tormented Clement for stealing their parents but at the same time protected Clement as he grew up. Clement endured all the abuse while also sheltering under Lucas who as they grew up was found to be incredibly intelligent. Lucas went on to become a distinguished professor of social sciences while Clement took up theater. All was well until a certain interesting event took place.

Lucas decides to kill Clement to probably bury his childhood agony and close a chapter forever. As they go for a walk in a secluded part of a garden in the city, Lucas tried to club Clement over the head with a bat they had since their childhood. At this point, a random stranger, Peter Mir, witnesses the incident and intervenes to try and prevent the murder. Lucas however bludgeons Peter Mir instead. Lucas tries to cover up the crime by asking his brother to go home with the bat while he explains to the police that he acted out of self defence as he believed Peter Mir was going to rob him. Peter Mir was initially thought dead and the trial eventually shows that Lucas acted within his rights to defend himself. Moreover, with Lucas being a professor and with people to vouch for him, the decision swung in his favour.

Lucas initially disappears after the trial and his friends and his brother think that he may have taken his life out of guilt. But he has disappeared as he usually does on his trips to deliver lectures and seminars. He returns safe and sound and his usual remote, aloof self to be met by Clement. And this is where the story gets interesting. Peter Mir who was thought to be dead confronts them in Lucas’ home. Peter knows fully well what Lucas is trying to do and plans a revenge of his own. Peter Mir claims to be a psychoanalyst in the past but can no longer work after the blow to his head.

At this stage, the novel does take a very interesting twist. The old jealousy between the brothers is recounted by Clement. Lucas claims that the desire to kill Clement has disappeared. Quite interestingly, Clement has no feelings of exacting revenge against Lucas for trying to kill him and on the other hand continues to protect him from Peter Mir. Lucas even states to Clement that Lucas has forgiven Clement for everything that happened in their childhood even though it was Lucas who was the perpetrator. This curious bond between the brothers is described in some detail and is a good read.

There are some very good dialogues between the trio – Lucas, Peter and Clement in Lucas’ house. Peter is convinced that Lucas is a vile and loathsome creature and that Peter will destroy Lucas in the way he sees fit. Peter wishes to enter into their circle of friends and is introduced to them. His motives for doing so seem vague. Initially, it seemed as if he would hurt Lucas’ and Clement’s friends to get back at Clement.

Peter requests Clement, Lucas and a friend of theirs Bellamy to reenact the episode when Lucas was about to strike Clement in the same place with the same bat. Peter initially claims to wish to rekindle a memory that he has completely forgotten. On that night, Peter collapses as they gather at the same spot. Bellamy claims to have witnessed a supernatural event with Peter enveloped in light while Clement has the suspicion that Lucas took that opportunity to strike Peter a second time with the bat. They take Peter back to his house and find to their surprise and curiosity that he lives in a grand house that has hardly been lived in for a while. As they leave Peter at his house, Peter states that he has remembered what he had forgotten.

I had some hope that this would turn into a psychological thriller with Peter, Lucas and Clement pitted against each other and trying to destroy each other. Maybe Peter trying to ignite a hatred between the brothers or trying to turn friends against each other. But Peter sadly dies soon after as the blow to his head was too severe and he should not have been moving around at all but should have been in a psychiatric facility under complete rest and supervision.

And from here on the book takes a complete downturn. Turns into a ridiculous soap opera with everyone among the friends quickly falling in love with each other. Almost all of them form couples and are happily married. After having brought on that well-staged psychological war, I can’t understand how Murdoch decided the novel should go this way. If she was just trying to increase readership with happy endings, I am not sure if she succeeded.