Mystical Realism in Iris Murdoch's The Bell

Much critical attention has been paid to Iris Murdoch's high respect for and development of traditional realistic fiction. Her portrayal of Imber Abbey in The Bell is inspired by Distributist communities founded in the first half of the twentieth century and reflects upon the moral and cultural challenges faced by postwar Britain. The predicament and transformation of Dora and Michael, the existential heroine and hero of the novel, as well as the rise and fall of the Imber community, testify to the importance of art, reality and imagination. Combining concern for social reality and exploration of moral psychology, The Bell is a fine example of Murdoch's distinct moral realism. The blending of traditional realism and Murdochian mysticism enriches the meanings of reality and realism and is associated with Murdoch's understanding of good life and good society.