Morality according to Irving : an examination of the value system operating in the fiction of John Irving.
John Irving has been labeled a moral writer by several of his critics, but these critics fail to address the controversial and unorthodox subjects Irving incorporates into his fiction. The presence of incest, adultery, homosexuality, transsexuality, draft dodging, graphic violence, and rape in Irving's novels contradicts Irving's label as a moral writer unless Irving's values are examined more closely. This close examination is impossible without admitting that Irving's moral sense differs from traditional American values. After establishing Irving's critical background, this study clarifies the values operating in Irving's fiction. The difference between Irving's value system and traditional American values are examined, followed by a deeper definition of the moral forces consistent throughout Irving's writing. Two principles dominate Irving's moral aesthetic: an unwavering requirement that his characters react to pain and loss with life-affirming hopefulness, and a Dantean sense of fitting or ironic judgment when characters fail to abide by important moral standards.
Irving, John, 1942- -- Criticism and interpretation.
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