Point of View

The point of view used in A Severed Head by Iris Murdoch is in the first person. The voice of the story belongs to Martin Lynch-Gibbon, a 41-year-old married wine merchant.

Martin Lynch-Gibbon is one of three children, descended from an Anglo-Irish family on his father's side. Martin's mother was a Welsh painter. Martin is "a very tall, reasonably good-looking man" with brown hair, which will eventually fade to the color of white pepper. Martin's face is long, pale and considered to be old-fashioned, a trait carried by all the Lynch-Gibbons.

As a younger man Martin was often quarrelsome and became a good boxer. In present times, Martin tends to be more of a cynic and philosopher, opting to be morose and somewhat of a recluse.

Martin grew up during the war during which he remained safe due to a series of ailments including hay fever...