“The Philosopher’s Pupil” (post 1) by Iris Murdoch (post 3): Protagonist is called “justified sinner,” title of James Hogg’s novel of murder by alternate personality.

At the beginning of Iris Murdoch’s novel, the protagonist, George, who already has a reputation for violent episodes, now tries to kill his wife by pushing her car over a cliff:

“How could I have done that, he thought, looking down. As on similar occasions in the past, he felt a cleavage between himself and the George who did things…” (1, p. 14).

The narrator says, “I confess that I cannot offer any illuminating explanation [of George]…We are in fact more randomly made…than art or vulgar psycho-analysis leads us to imagine…George McCaffrey was deeply affected by his teacher [of philosophy, Rozanov]…how absolutely this man had taken possession of his soul…Why was [Rozanov] coming back to [town]? Was it for him, the lost sheep, the one just man, the justified sinner?" (1, pp. 76-79).

James Hogg’s “Justified Sinner”

“The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner is a novel by the Scottish author James Hogg, published anonymously in 1824…

“The confession traces Robert's gradual decline into despair and madness, as his doubts about the righteousness of his cause are counteracted by Gil-Martin’s increasing domination over his life. Finally, Robert loses control over his own identity and even loses track of time. During these lost weeks and months, it is suggested that Gil-Martin assumes Robert’s appearance in order to commit further crimes. However, there are also suggestions in the text, that 'Gil-Martin' is a figment of Robert's imagination, and is simply an aspect of his own personality: as, for example when 'the sinner' writes, 'I feel as if I were the same person' (as Gil-Martin)…

“The novel has been cited as an inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde…” (2).

1. Iris Murdoch. The Philosopher’s Pupil. New York, Viking, 1983.

2. Wikipedia.