The Characters of Muriel Spark and their Universal Experiences

Abstract

The paper discusses some universal experiences and worldly phenomena which Mrs. Spark very beautifully reveals through her characters. But these experiences are universal in this sense that they are applicable not to a particular person but to every human being of the world. It also studies the reactions of Mrs. Spark’s characters to these universal attributes. The universal phenomena explored by Mrs. Spark are Death as a natural phenomenon, jealousy, decaying materialistic civilization, moral degradation, suffering etc. Her novels; Memento Mori depicts the importance of Death which is inevitable part of our life, The Bachelors presents the problems and shortcomings of celibates and The Only Problem reveals the significance of suffering which is ever mixed with pleasure. Generally, the world of Mrs. Spark's novels is a fallen one and she emphasizes the revelation of degeneration of worldly men. The Ballad of Peckham Rye and The Public Image are such novels as depict the worldliness materialism and loss of spiritualism of the modern human beings.