Abstract

Egoism is a complicated doctrine that has three main variants: ethical egoism, rational egoism, and psychological egoism. According to the doctrine everyone is egoist, but the difference among the three variants is the temptation of the egoist. This article is devoted to discussing the doctrine of psychological egoism in “The Phoenix” by the contemporary novelist Chika Unigwe, a Flemish author of African Origin. It was shortlisted for Women and Culture Debut Prize for the best debut novel by a female writer, and for Gerard Walschapprijs Prize 2007 for novels. The heroine of “The Phoenix,” Oge, is the center of a big circle of egoism, and she is exploited by everyone she met in the novel: the Train lady, her neighbor Lisa, her husband Gunter, the Lift Man, and finally the Pastor who caused her the biggest shock leading her to lose faith and trust in God. Falling prey to all egoists did not prevent Oge from spiritual resurrection to restore her life again.