Magus Questions

1) Fowles wrote to a reader that "to be free (which means rejecting all the gods and political creeds and the rest) leaves one no choice but to act according to reason: that is, humanely to all humans." How does this apply to what Nicholas learns from his time on the island?

2) From the question posed by de Doukans to Conchis - "Are you living the water or the wave?" What is the meaning of the image? What is the relevance of this meaning to the way a life is lived? Is Conchis living the water or the wave? Is Nicholas?

3) At the end of the novel Mitford tells Nicholas that Conchis "did a deal with the Germans. Personally organised the shooting of 80 villagers." Is this the 'true' version do you think as opposed to Conchis's?

4) At the end of The Magus, Nicholas slaps Alison. What do you suppose the author was trying to portray through this incident? Do you think Nicholas and Alison end up together?

5) From this quote,
“The human race is unimportant. It is the self that must not be betrayed."

"I suppose one could say that Hitler didn't betray his self."

"You are right. He did not. But millions of Germans did betray their selves. That was the tragedy. Not that one man had the courage to be evil. But that millions had not the courage to be good.”
What are the moral implications made in this quote? Is it truly okay to act as one wishes so long as he is “true to himself?”