The present research studied Iris Murdoch’s The Sandcastle through the lens of Louis Althusser’s Neo-Marxist theory of ideology and ideological state apparatuses (ISAs), with a focus on the family and education ISAs. In this study, an attempt was made to display the problems faced by Mor, the protagonist of the novel, as a result of the restrictions imposed by the family and education institutions. The analysis offered in this study showed that how rules of the family and education ISAs played important roles in Bill’s life. The rules of the family and education ISAs made Bill behave incorrectly and irrationally. He felt losing his life because he lost happiness and love. But When Nan behaved in a way to protect their relationship, Bill refused a new love to keep on his life with his family. The rules limited him and prevented him from feeling happiness and that made him trying escape his real life. The rules of education also prevented Bill from being a headteacher, although he was efficient. Both of family and education ISAs affected him negatively. Bill felt oppressed and sad because of these two ISAs, family and education. Though he suffered a lot because of these two ISAs, he accepted to get back his family and to live normally under the same rules but he needed happiness and love because those were the source of power and energy with which he could keep on in life.
