Themes Of Love In Iris Murdoch's 'Under The Net'

In Iris Murdoch’s novel Under the Net, she explores various philosophical themes throughout Jake’s journey and his encounters. One particular theme, love, is what essentially drives certain characters within the novel to conflict and other consequences. Love also acts as a motivational force and a prominent concept that is discussed within various scenes.

In the beginning of the novel, it is established that Jake is still infatuated by his former lover Anna when he goes to see her at a theatre. Upon looking at her, he says “I looked upon the face that I had known so well and now that for the first time I saw its beauty as mortal I felt that I had never loved it so dearly”. Within this scene, Jake begins to reminisce on old memories of Anna

With Sadie needing a caretaker for her flat, she talks about how a fellow named Hugo is “madly in love” with her and has been trying to reach her, thus giving her a reason to hire a caretaker. Upon discovering this, Jake is surprised and is quoted “Hugo being in love with Sadie was, when I considered it, overwhelming”. Knowing Sadie and Hugo personally, Jake concludes, “Hugo was not at all the man to love Sadie, Sadie was just the woman to be in love with Hugo.” As to who Hugo is in love with, Jake says “and in an instant it was clear to me that it was not Sadie that Hugo was in love with but Anna,” since “Anna, of course, was very much more the sort of girl whom Hugo would be likely to love.” With this revelation, love comes to play in this scene by acting as a force that complicates human relationships. As seen in the relationship and former friendship of Hugo and Jake, love creates a tension and a slight barrier between the two. Additionally, love is something that can’t necessarily be judged, which is what Jake does with Hugo and Anna.

Eventually in the novel, Jake travels to Paris in an attempt to find Madge but ends up with thoughts of Anna on his mind. “If Anna were in Paris, what would she be doing?” he asks himself. He then proceeds to look for Anna around Paris and goes so far as to following a girl that looks like her. It this scene, it is love that leads Jake to travel

Beginning the conversation by asking Hugo “Did she (Anna) love you?” the scene ends with an unexpected twist when it is revealed that Hugo has actually been in love with Sadie all along. “The impossibility of Hugo loving Sadie loomed over me inexpressibly,” Jake thinks upon hearing Hugo’s account. As to the reason why Hugo would prefer Sadie, he says, “Sadie’s more intelligent!” which surprises Jake. “Anna loves you,” Jake tells Hugo to which Hugo responds “She’s as crazy about me as I am about Sadie.” Finally, the confusion is put to an end with Hugo’s line: “I love Sadie, who’s keen on you, and you love Anna, who’s keen on me. Perverse isn’t it?” In this scene, love essentially gives truth and a sense of enlightenment to Jake. It also shows how love can often times be deceiving on the outside, as it was to Jake with Anna, Hugo, and