"A Severed Head" - By Iris Murdoch (Scottish Higher, Personal Study)

“To what extent do Martin’s negative experiences of love, push him into a state of mental and physical ill-health?”

The novel, “A Severed Head” by Iris Murdoch, is heavily laden with upsetting incidents concerning love. Most of these revolve around the main character Martin, and proceed through the course of the novel to further disintegrate his mental and physical state. Martin’s sturdy marriage to his beautiful wife is torn into pieces, his secret affair is exposed and he falls madly in love with someone ever unlikely. This Specialist Study attempts to asses the main factors which eventually push the main character into a state of depression and poor well-being.

Martin, a forty-one year old Businessman, sits alone in his study one night, contemplating the perfect situation he is in. A beautiful, understanding wife was his – as was his adoring Mistress, Georgie. Unbeknown to Martin however, his wonderful life was about to come crashing down all around him. His wife...