Isabel

// The Sunday Philosophy Club // is a novel which discusses morality and values at large, and the role, if any, they play in society. It is centered around the life of Isabel Dalhousie a young, well-to-do, single, middle-aged philosopher who makes her living as the editor of a //Review of Applied Ethics// in Edinburgh, Scotland. This affords her a very unique outlook on life, which is colored by moral scrutiny. Isabel’s moral values are challenged by a series of events which stem from her witnessing a young man fall “from the gods,” the highest balconies at a classical concert. Isabel, seeing the young man fall, cannot help but feel a moral obligation to give the police her account of what happened, and she goes home very disturbed. For several days afterward, the incident troubles her. Upon attending an art show and meeting a man named Paul Hogg, a former co-worker of the young man who fell, Isabel learns that the young man’s name was Mark Fraser and he worked in finances a firm named McDowell’s.
 * __ Synopsis of The Sunday Philosophy Club __**

With a renewed interest, and some help from her niece, Cat, Isabel finds Mark’s house and pays a visit to his former flatmates, and leaves with an enhanced sense of suspicion. A later unannounced visit by one of the flatmates, Neil, reveals that Mark may have been aware of illegal inside trading within the firm, and this reinforces Isabel’s lurking suspicion that Mark may have been murdered.

Driven by the principle of moral proximity, and a burning curiosity, Isabel dives further into the mystery, with the help of Jamie, Cat’s ex-boyfriend, whom Isabel prefers to the “unfaithful” Toby. She visits Paul Hogg under the pretense of viewing the artwork he recently purchased, but really hoping to uncover more about the mystery of Mark’s death. At Paul’s house, Isabel meets Minty Aucherlonie, Paul’s fiancé. Immediately, Minty’s ambitious, conniving demeanor leads Isabel to suspect that she had a hand in Mark’s death. Minty drops subtle warnings to Isabel, admonishing her to stay out of the matter.

Further investigation brings Isabel into contact with a man named Johnny Sanderson, who seems very straightforward and trustworthy. He listens to her and offers to help her in her investigation, but they soon conclude that they will not be able to find any concrete evidence against Minty. Isabel counts Johnny as an ally, until one night she comes home to find him in her house, although he leaves without harming her physically.

Through unexpected intervention from Minty on Isabel’s behalf, Johnny backs off and leaves Isabel alone. Compelled by the same sense of moral obligation, Isabel returns to Mark’s flat to tell his flatmates what she had found. Upon returning, she soon realizes that someone in the flat was at the concert the night that Mark died. Isabel confronts Neil, who confides in her, revealing that before Mark fell from the balcony, he and Mark were in an argument and he shoved Mark in frustration, but without malice. Learning that it was a complete accident, Isabel comes to the conclusion that it would solve nothing and bring no justice if she were to call the authorities on Neil because he did not have the intent to kill Mark, which absolves him of the effects of moral retribution.


 * __ The Archetypal Role of Isabel __**

In the novel, //The Sunday Philosophy Club//, Isabel Dalhousie best represents the archetype of the Jungian Self. Throughout the novel, she portrays a very keen understanding of her environment. Isabel chooses her actions and decisions very deliberately, and they often lead directly to the outcome she was searching for. She seems to have a very deep understanding of the world she lives in, and although she may not realize it, she exerts a great deal of control over her environment; things generally go her way as if it was her world. Due to this very intuitive awareness, her cognitively transcendent perception of morality, and the sense of wholeness which her character exuberates, Isabel best represents the Jungian Self.

Through the emphasis of Isabel’s confidence throughout book, the author creates a sense of wholeness about her character which is a trait of the Jungian Self. Isabel is much more collected and confident than many of the other characters in the book. She is very sure of who she is, what she wants, and what she doesn’t want. This is represented in all aspects of her life, most obviously, her career choice: philosophy. Before even attending college, Isabel had “put to one side all thoughts of a career and chosen the one topic which really interested her, philosophy.” (Page 28) Her very concrete, constant, palpable nature is reflected in this quote. It plainly displays the determination and sureness which are central traits of Isabel’s personality, and add a dimension of completeness and wholeness to her character. In this respect, she is very similar to Beowulf, whose confidence is displayed in multiple places throughout the poem. Beowulf’s confidence is a very important part of who he is, and is necessary for understanding his character. Also, Isabel displays some traits of the overly-chivalric //Ofermod// sense of confidence which leads her to chase mysteries because she feels “irresistibly drawn into them,” (Page 69) despite the advice of those around her.

Isabel displays a very cognitively transcendent perception of morality throughout the novel. Her actions throughout the entire novel are driven primarily by the obligation of “moral proximity,” (Page 69) meaning that she has a duty to further investigate any issue because she is aware of it and is sufficiently involved with it. She argues that “’ we have moral obligations to those who we come up against, who enter our moral space…’” (Page 70) This shows a very deep understanding of the world and one’s role in it, which is a trait of the Jungian Self. It shows that Isabel already understands herself and her place in the world as an individual, and has grown to where she can understand the roles of others as well. She is similar to Atticus Finch in this respect, as they both have very strong moral compasses. Both Isabel and Atticus are driven by morals and their morality provides a very apparent contrast between them and the societies they live in, and reflect a deeper understanding of the world as a whole.

One of Isabel’s most significant traits is her intuitive awareness of the world around her. Throughout the novel, her analytical skills and abundant knowledge of the way in which things work in her environment serve to further her development in the Jungian Self archetype. Within an hour of meeting Minty Auchterlonie, Isabel concludes that Minty “’… has a personality disorder.’” (Page 157) She then goes on to state that “’most people would not recognize it, but it is definitely there.’” (Page 157) This displays Isabel’s ability to analyze details and form a conclusion. She is very aware of the subtle nuances which reflect a person’s character. Like Alfred Doolittle, she displays a very deep understanding of the world around her. In this respect, she represents the role of the Jungian Self.

Isabel Dalhousie, in the novel //The Sunday Philosophy Club,// represents the role of the Jungian Self, an individual, cognizant free-thinker with a very deep understanding of the world they live in. This is displayed through her intuitive awareness, her cognitively transcendent perception of morality, and the sense of wholeness which her character exuberates.


 * __ How to Speak Like Isabel __**

1. ASK YOURSELF SEVERAL RHETORICAL QUESTIONS IN QUICK SUCESSION WHEN PONDERING A PARTICULAR TOPIC

// Example: // “Did she not think that too?...” “Of course, that had its drawbacks, did it not? What if one wanted to lead a secret life? Would it not be difficult in Edinburgh? Would one have to go over to Glasgow to lead it there?” –PG.54

// Commentary: // Isabel, having an incredibly strong moral compass, often asks herself several questions in order to decide on a course of action, the morality of a certain topic, its significance, or its validity. This highlights her uncertainty, the value which she places in making moral decisions, and her curious, inquisitive nature, which drive her throughout the book.

2. BE VERY PERCEPTIVE, ANALYZING ALL WHOM YOU COME INTO CONTACT WITH

// Example: // “Isabel watched him closely. The muscular tension in the face aged him, making lines about the corners of his mouth. The palms of his hands would be moist, she thought. She said nothing, but waited for him to continue.” –PG.115

// Commentary: // Isabel, as a philosopher, tends to be very analytical, almost judgmental. It is important when speaking like Isabel to analyze and come to conclusions about all you see. This reflects Isabel’s inquisitive nature. She judges what she observes and makes inferences, almost to the point of jumping to conclusions.

3.REPEAT THE NAMES OF THOSE WHOM YOU DESPISE WHEN ADDRESSING THEM IN ORDER TO FEIGN AMIABILITY

// Example: // “‘We could go together,’ Isabel pressed on, adding, ‘and Toby, too, of course, if you wanted to come, Toby.’” - PG.43

// Commentary: // In this quote, Isabel is making an effort to be friendly with Toby, a person who she despises, to the point where she frequently imagines different ways for him to meet his end. This is rather contradictory to her very moral values; one would imagine that she’d be able to at least tolerate him due to the fact that always treats her amiably. However, by including him as an afterthought, isolating one out of three people in the room by leaving him out of the subject “we” and the adverb “together,” Isabel is purposely allowing her dislike for him to show. By repeating his name, Isabel displays her guilt for doing so, which serves to further highlight her contempt for Toby.

4. PROGRESSIVELY SHORTEN YOUR SENTENCES AND ABANDON THE USE OF SUBJECTS AND PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES WHEN COMING TO A CONCLUSION

// Example: // “Her hair, quite unmistakably, was dark. Black or brown. Not blonde.” PG.131

// Commentary: // As a philosopher, Isabel naturally spends a lot of time thinking. Her curious, pensive nature is reflected in the progression of her thought process. While she first asks herself several rhetorical questions when thinking, her sentences become shorter and more direct and specific as she comes to a conclusion.

5.DESPITE BEING TYPICALLY VERY ARTICULATE, REPLY WITH MONOSYLLABIC EXPRESSIONS WHEN YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE UTTERLY WRONG

// Example: // “Isabel sat quite still. She had not expected this. ‘Oh,’ she said. And then, ‘Oh.’” PG.129

// Commentary: // Generally, Isabel is very articulate, and speaks with authority on most topics. Due to her occupation as a philosopher, Isabel is used to having opinions on almost everything. Isabel is used to being well-informed when speaking, and as a result, is unfamiliar with situations in which she is wrong. She does not know how to reply when she finds that she knows less that she originally thought, and, as a result, she is at a loss for words.


 * __ Conclusion: __**

This endeavor would be beneficial when one is in any sort of situation where one needed to impress others. It provides detailed steps to make one appear intelligent, as well as a procedure for backtracking when one finds that they are wrong. In either case, you win!