The Context
John Fowles’s novel, The Magus, is in my top five list of “Best Novels EVER!” It’s a powerful book whose
images and themes still haunt me. Your term paper assignment is based around chapter 53 of this novel.
Some preliminary information: Nicholas Urfe, after having a failed romance, moves to a Greek island to
teach at an all boy’s high school. The high school is on an Island that is divided roughly in half. Slightly less
than one-half of the Island is occupied by the small town, the villagers and the high school. Slightly more
than one-half of the island is owned by a very rich philanthropist named Conchis. The name, Conchis, is
pronounced, we are told, with a soft “ch” sound, i.e. it sounds like the word “conscioius.” Curious about this
mysterious philanthropist, Nicholas Urfe soon starts investigating the border between the two halves of the
island. He is noticed by Conchis who begins inviting him to visit. In this chapter, rather early in the book,
Conchis is telling his “story” to Nicholas.