Murphy (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Samuel Beckett
- First Published: 1938
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Absurdist
- Time of Work: The 1930’s
- Setting: Dublin, London, and between these two cities
- Genres: Long fiction, Absurdist literature
- Subjects: Suffering, Philosophy or philosophers, Psychology or psychologists, Prostitution or prostitutes, England or English people, Pain, Unemployment or unemployed workers, Death or dying, London, Existentialism, Ireland or Irish people, Isolation
- Locales: London, England, Dublin, Ireland
Characters Discussed
Murphy, a former theology student in Cork, Ireland, now living in London. He is inclined to be shy of permanent employment and is attractive to women despite a rather yellow complexion and an unusual wardrobe. He is superstitious and obsessed with astrological signs. He finds his greatest pleasure in rocking back and forth in a chair, bound, naked to the seat. Intelligent despite his seeming aimlessness, prone to minor heart attacks, and happiest in deep contemplation, he is supported, in part, by an uncle, Mr. Quigley, who lives in Holland. He likes the...
[The entire page is 680 words long]
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