Desire plays a central role in both psychoanalysis and literature, serving as a potent force that drives human behavior and shapes narrative structures. The present study employed a psychoanalytic framework to analyze Iris Murdoch’s The Philosopher’s Pupil (1983), focusing on the intricate interplay of desire, ideology, and the Real as articulated by contemporary theorist Slavoj Žižek. By examining these concepts, the study sought to illuminate the underlying psychological dynamics that inform Murdoch’s exploration of human relationships and ethical dilemmas within the text. The study aimed to elucidate how Murdoch navigated the complexities of human desire and the ideological constructs that shaped individual perception and social reality. This research particularly highlighted the major characters, including George McCaffrey and John Robert Rozanov who are dealing with their existential dilemmas. These characters engaged in a complex interplay regarding their desires, confronting unattainable goals and the traumatic aspects of reality. In the novel, both characters are depicted as individuals grappling with intense desires that ultimately remain unfulfilled. However, their responses to the trauma of the Real highlight a significant divergence between them. Their inquiry uncovered the profound impact of desire on individual identity and relational dynamics, thereby contributing to a nuanced understanding of how such elements inform broader existential dilemmas. Also, the study offered a new perspective on the portrayal of psychoanalytic concepts in the novel. The research sought to bridge gaps in scholarly discourse by examining the interplay between Slavoj Žižek’s philosophical insights and Murdoch’s narrative complexities, advocating for an integrative analytical approach that enriched literary criticism and philosophical inquiry.
