Nietzsche Rethought: testing virtue ethics in John Banville

Christine Swanton (2014, 2015) has powerfully described a new way of reading Nietzsche’s egoism within the framework of “virtue ethics”. Swanton labels this a “virtuous egoism,” the paradox of which is self-evident. “Virtuous egoism” is the “morality of the mature individual.” This note proves this rethinking of Nietzsche through briefly reading bestselling and critically-acclaimed Irish author, John Banville. Through an adjustment in reading Banville, Swanton’s Nietzschean theory holds true. This supports Swanton’s approach, and invites a reconsideration of Banville’s writing, as well as literary fiction more broadly.