The Magus by John Fowles
"The Magus" by John Fowles is a novel that explores themes of identity, manipulation, and the search for meaning through the experiences of its protagonist, Nicholas Urfe. Set on the Greek island of Phraxos, the story follows the twenty-six-year-old Urfe as he takes a teaching job in pursuit of purpose after a disillusioning romantic encounter in London. His life takes a turn when he meets Maurice Conchis, a mysterious and wealthy man who blurs the lines between reality and illusion.
As Urfe becomes entangled in Conchis's intricate web of psychological games, he develops feelings for Julie Holmes, an actress playing the role of Conchis's former love. The narrative intensifies with themes of betrayal, jealousy, and power dynamics, culminating in a shocking series of events that test Urfe's moral integrity. The story delves into the consequences of Urfe's choices and his struggles with guilt and redemption, ultimately leading him back to his past relationship with Alison.
Through its complex characters and psychological depth, "The Magus" invites readers to reflect on the nature of reality and the human condition, making it a thought-provoking exploration of the lengths to which people go in their quest for understanding and connection. With its rich symbolism and philosophical underpinnings, the novel has garnered attention for its intricate storytelling and the existential questions it raises.
The Magus by John Fowles
First published: 1965; revised, 1977
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Psychological realism
Time of plot: 1953
Locale: England and Greece
Principal Characters
Nicholas Urfe , a twenty-six-year-old English teacherAlison Kelly , his loverMaurice Conchis , a wealthy English-born Greek philosopherJulie Holmes , an actorLily de Seitas , a friend of Conchis and Julie’s motherJojo , a young Scottish woman
The Story
Nicholas Urfe, a twenty-six-year-old Englishman looking for something to do with his life, takes a teaching job on the Greek island of Phraxos. He had previously met and romanced an Australian woman, Alison Kelly, and abandoned her at a party in London, and he has little direction or meaning ahead of him.
Discussions with his British predecessor at the Greek school lead Urfe to make the acquaintance of Maurice Conchis, a wealthy man who owns an estate near the school. Conchis tells Urfe something of his past, and what develops over time is a strange mixture of past and present as characters from Conchis’s life appear during Urfe’s visits to the man’s villa. One of these is Lily, Conchis’s former sweetheart, who, in reality, is Julie Holmes, a British actor. Urfe falls in love with Lily/Julie. Later, Urfe is reunited with Alison in Athens, but after he tells her of his love for Julie, Alison apparently kills herself. Urfe is shaken by the suicide, but he begins to pursue Julie.
Events take a strange turn when Urfe is drugged, taken into a subterranean prison on Phraxos, and forced to judge the people who have appeared in his episodes with Conchis. He is offered the opportunity to punish Julie by whipping her, but he refuses. Then Urfe is bound and forced to watch a pornographic film that stars Julie and Joe Harrison, another actor in Conchis’s bizarre orchestration of events. Following the film, Julie and Joe appear and consummate their sexual relationship in front of Urfe.
Urfe is enraged by what has been inflicted on him. When he is released from his imprisonment, he finds that he has been fired from his teaching job, and he returns to Athens. He discovers that the news of Alison’s suicide had been false. He then goes to London in search of Julie and meets her mother, Lily de Seitas, a woman who cooperated with Conchis in Urfe’s deception. Lily explains to Urfe that what Conchis and the others did to him was for his own good, to make him a better person. She insists that he wait for Alison to reappear.
Meanwhile, Urfe meets Jojo, an earthy young Scottish woman, at a theater. She falls in love with him, and, try as he might, he is unable to keep from hurting her. Despairing of the pain that he has caused Jojo, Urfe meets Alison in a park, and the story ends as he and she negotiate a resumption of their relationship.
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