In 1970, the British writer Iris Murdoch wrote a novel entitled A Fairly Honourable Defeat. The story had numerous characters, both good and bad, but ultimately took its title from the travails of one character, Tallis Browne, who represents all that is decent, altruistic and moral among the various characters. Despite being betrayed by almost everyone, he stays the course true to himself, never betraying trust. But the story does not end well for him.
On the basis of his seeming defeat, Murdoch poses these questions: where is justice? Where’s fairness? Shouldn’t goodness triumph? Murdoch, an agnostic, suggests that in reality a good life doesn’t always make for the triumph of goodness. However, if goodness sustains itself and does not betray itself, its defeat will be honourable.
