Passion vs duty: exploring Iris Murdoch’s The Sandcastle

Our September Book Club was kicked off by Carmel, who introduced us to The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch. She gave an excellent account of the plot and setting, along with thoughtful descriptions of the characters, which really helped us all get to grips with what turned out to be quite a complex novel.

The book is set in the 1950s at a minor boys’ public school in a London suburb, where conventional, stifling routines shape the lives of the staff and their families. At its heart is Bill Mor, a middle-aged teacher whose orderly life is thrown into turmoil when he meets Rain Carter, a young artist commissioned to paint the retiring headmaster’s portrait. The novel explores his struggle between duty to his family and his longing for personal freedom, weaving in Murdoch’s familiar themes of love, morality and the human condition. The Sandcastle of the title is alluded to in Rain’s reminiscences of Mediterranean beaches—“When I tried to make a sandcastle, the sand would just run away between my fingers.”—but also reflects the fragility of Mor’s aspirations and desires, which are precarious, vulnerable and destined to be washed away by the force of reality.

As expected, our discussion was lively and wide-ranging—so much so that I can’t hope to capture it all here! Many of us initially found the setting dated and alien: a world of stuffy conventions, institutional misogyny and social restraint. Yet as we read further, the energy of the characters and the dramatic tension of the plot pulled us in. Murdoch’s philosophical background shines through, as the story presents constant tensions—passion versus duty, academia versus the messy ‘real’ world, intellect versus emotion, exploration versus safety, kindness versus honesty.

Although it seems Iris Murdoch is somewhat out of fashion these days, we all came away with a deep admiration for her skill: the way she combines intricate plotting, vivid characters, a strong sense of place, and even humour. Whether or not her work finds a resurgence in popularity, The Sandcastle gave us plenty to think about—and plenty to admire.

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 8th October, when Tony Brown will introduce Saturday by Ian McEwan.