Iris Murdoch's fiction is renowned for its self-awareness, particularly evident in her complex and intentionally improbable plots. This characteristic is prominently displayed in some of her novels, where Murdoch explicitly highlights the artifice of her narratives. During the period of writing A Fairly Honourable Defeat, she experimented with dialogue that is more reminiscent of theatrical scripts than conventional prose. These elaborate, stichomythic exchanges captivate with their sharp wit but also create a degree of separation between the reader and the characters, akin to the relationship between an audience and a theatrical performance.

Murdoch's oeuvre frequently divides critical opinion. Advocates of her work argue she is a major writer with serious thematic intentions, citing the multiple layers of meaning in her novels as evidence of her literary prowess. Conversely, skeptics perceive her elaborate allusions as mere pretension. Nevertheless, Murdoch's true strength as a novelist often lies in her ability to oscillate between realism and other genres. She skillfully incorporates elements of romantic farce, metaphysical suggestions, and philosophical concepts. Her narrative style, rich and engaging, manages to transcend skepticism, allowing the depth and complexity of her stories to triumph over any disbelief, however warranted it might appear at first glance.