Sinister: I could be dreaming, but I'm working instead.

[Jason McKinnon]

Belle And Sebastian : Murdoch And The Use Of Irony

By Jason McKinnon

Stuart Murdoch was a powerful contributor to the late 17th century literary 
tradition. Unfortunately, Belle And Sebastian is absolutely clearly 
brainless in terms of Murdoch's usual Minimalist politics. Below, I will 
show that most Modernist critics are wrong about Murdoch's use of coming of 
age. Support for this claim is present in the following: (a) Murdoch's 
brilliant role in the pre conservative school, (b) the conservative views of 
Belle And Sebastian's protagonist, David Maxwell, and (c) the author's use 
of the prison.

First, Belle And Sebastian is definitely a monumental work. Belle And 
Sebastian is not so much roman a clef per se as it is Murdoch's most 
heart-felt exegesis of love. Clearly, Murdoch meant this as a critique of 
sexual identity; Nick Adams is a surprisingly drug-influenced character.

Pathos is not Belle And Sebastian's only theme; there is also pure religion. 
It's quite obvious that Murdoch's will to live was tenuous at best by the 
time Belle And Sebastian was completed. Critics of Murdoch's work often 
overlook this aspect; Murdoch's point here is clear: immortality and love 
are one and the same.


She looked to the bleak horizon. He was ready for any unforeseen event. 
There was hope in her eyes; in his, hope of a different kind. He drank the 
coffee. Down by the river, there was much mud and much water to drink. He 
was ready for any unforeseen event. (Murdoch 93)
Murdoch's quest for immortality couldn't be more forceful; still, truer 
words have never been uttered, at least not by me.
These themes are most evident in opening monologue of Belle And Sebastian, 
for that is when Murdoch's often pandering prose shines most brightly. Many 
concerned teens see the book's latter half as the most influential; I, 
however, do not. Developments in the opening monologue are often cited as 
evidence; nonetheless, we must be careful in making assumptions.

Belle And Sebastian is, like all of Murdoch's great works, a triumph over 
the political commentary of the human condition. As you can imagine, 
feminists took to the streets after the book's first publication. This 
reasoning differs radically from traditional theories of the 16th century 
renaissance of American literature.


First, the subversive undertones motif in Belle And Sebastian was not 
original with Murdoch. Consider this famous quote by Robert Frost: "Down by 
the river, there was much mud and much water to drink." Though these words 
have a Constructivist quality, they also reveal search for reason. Wars have 
been fought over less. Critics of Murdoch's work often overlook this aspect; 
as pure bildungsroman, Belle And Sebastian was assailed for such statements. 
This begs the question: why?

Wilderness is not Belle And Sebastian's only theme; there is also pure 
salvation. As you can imagine, students took to the streets after the book's 
first publication. Parts of the book's final paragraph are often cited as 
evidence.


It was a terrible week in France. His face was bright as he looked at her. 
The whiskey tasted good to the man. He sat in the chair. It was late at 
night when the old man died. Oh! How beautiful a sunrise can be!. (Murdoch 
88)
Yet again, Belle And Sebastian's discordant amalgam of dystopic 
future-vision and loss of innocence couldn't be more compelling; though 
these words have a Symbolist quality, they also reveal search for truth.
Murdoch's under-class sympathies are evident in Belle And Sebastian. While 
this fact allays most of Murdoch's expatriot detractors, it has led a 
certain Christian critic-- the execrable T. S. Eliot --to proclaim " Belle 
And Sebastian's discordant amalgam of loss of innocence and nature couldn't 
be more forceful." This all but proves my thesis, especially when Murdoch's 
portrayal of pathos in the book is taken into account.

The lingering line of Belle And Sebastian is, "He drank the coffee." 
(Murdoch 89) To conclude from this that my argument is true is... trivial. 
Of course, like all great works, Belle And Sebastian has its flaws! 
Probably, Murdoch meant this as a critique of sexual identity.


Consider that Belle And Sebastian was not so much written by Murdoch as 
belched forth in a fit of sublime inspiration. In the twelfth chapter the 
reader is presented with a paradox: though the characters seem unable to 
escape human nature, they are simultaneously drug-influenced and powerful. 
Parts of the book's twelfth chapter are often cited as evidence.

Murdoch's will to live is truly evident in Belle And Sebastian. As such, the 
words of the character Nick Sawyer ring true: "Autumn is the finest, and 
third, season." As pure autobiography, Belle And Sebastian was assailed for 
such statements; that's the expatriot assumption, at least.


There was hope in her eyes; in his, hope of a different kind. The game was 
up. Surely, fate was with them. His sadness was deep, as if it wouldn't end. 
The man doffed his nice hat. Life offered nothing but fear itself. (Murdoch 
88)
In just a few words, the Christian movement was left in shambles; still, in 
some circles, this caused revolution; in others, revulsion.
Lines like "He was ready for any unforeseen event," have made Belle And 
Sebastian required reading for the Christian student. Belle And Sebastian's 
portrayal of farce is in keeping with its Dadaist point-of-view. Some of 
Murdoch's best-loved writing is in Belle And Sebastian.

Realize that Murdoch had lost his motivation just before completing Belle 
And Sebastian. While most other British authors conceived of their 
characters as pre Colonialist symbols, Murdoch's lusted for real truth! It 
is no great feat to realize Murdoch has written himself into a corner here!


Critics are dead wrong when they cite Belle And Sebastian as an example of 
Murdoch's dwindling ability. Murdoch's quest for salvation in his later 
books supports this conclusion. Some of Murdoch's best writing is in Belle 
And Sebastian.

Consider this passage: "Her eyes were blue like sapphires." (Murdoch 89) The 
contemplation of this passage is beyond me. To indicate that King Lewis is 
the work's villain, the author makes his dialogue half-baked. This becomes 
obvious only when one considers the book's famous line, "Her eyes were blue 
like sapphires." (Murdoch 118)


I couldn't believe it. It was late at night when the old man died. Unheard, 
I cried. Tuesday was a the bleakest day for the Parkers. My ideology is 
quite obvious. He sat in the chair. (Murdoch 84)
One can see that pathos is right around the corner; still, truer words have 
never been uttered, at least not by me.
The protagonist's life is dominated by hope, and the character of Tom 
Caulfield is ponderous as a smybol of bathos. It should be obvious that 
Murdoch was never driven purely by the reality paradigm. Ishmael Caulfield 
is a ponderous character for this very reason; Benvolio Daniel is a far from 
marginal character; in fact, it is through him that many of Murdoch's 18th 
century influences show through.

Finally, the dystopic future-vision motif in Belle And Sebastian was not 
original with Murdoch. Consider this famous quote by Shakespeare: "Autumn is 
the finest, and third, season." Tragedy and political commentary come to 
bear here like never before. As you can imagine, women took to the streets 
after the book's first publication. This reasoning differs radically from 
traditional theories of the conservative school of American literature.


Belle And Sebastian should be required reading for all expatriots. While 
other works influenced by the pre conservative school are frequently 
forgotten, Belle And Sebastian remains brilliant. Though famous for 
portrayals of wilderness in other works, Murdoch will always be loved for 
his powerful exploration of revolution in this book. Join me in appreciating 
it.



The End



This ridiculously silly paper was generated by this online thingy-ma-bob 
that creates a paper from a few items of fact.

http://toy.thespark.com/paper_writer/paper.cgi

I thought it was funny when I entered Stuart and B&S.

PP


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
        +---+  Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list  +---+
     To send to the list mail sinister at missprint.org. To unsubscribe
     send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to
     majordomo at missprint.org.  WWW: http://www.missprint.org/sinister
 +-+       "sinsietr is a bit freaky" - stuart david, looper           +-+
 +-+  "legion of bedroom saddo devotees" "peculiarly deranged fanbase" +-+
 +-+    "pasty-faced vegan geeks... and we LOST!" - NME April 2000     +-+
 +-+  "frighteningly named Sinister List organisation" - NME May 2000  +-+
 +-+               Nee, nee mun pish, chan pai dee kwa                 +-+
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+