It appears extremely odd how the narrator analyses everything as if the disaster to follow, and every moment up until that time had been thoroughly analysed by him, or talked through at a police enquirery to gain exact information. The narrator also deems the prospect of following his emotional responses foolish, “what idiocy, to be racing into this story and its Labrynths” suggesting that as a person he is well educated and regrets what is going to happen.
There is a lot of reference to the wind in the first chapter, “the wind that roared”, “with the wind at my back” and the strength of it "transversing" and "hurtling," which adds to the detailed picture painting of the scene, but also seems to propose that the narrator is obsessed with detail, and telling the everything just right, and adds to the idea that he has gone over the story and what happened so many times before. Before the disaster takes place, the scene is still in a state of grace and a picture of calm before the storm is created, "Balloon drifting dreamily across the wooded valley." From then on the wind is a constant feature that symbolises the danger that lies ahead.
The narrator says “Let me freeze the frame,” which is media terminology, McEwan uses this technique to build up more tension, and to draw the reader back into the story plot. It helps and encourages focus and observation to picture what is actually happening, whilst at the same time, its an opportunity for the narrator to introduce a bigger picture of the characters and the scene. Mc Ewan also uses short sentences to create excitement and adrenaline to make turning the page irresistible, “I was running towards it. The transformation was absolute.” Which is a fast and swift style of writing.
The reference to the buzzard is an interesting one as it gives the impression of the narrator trying to escape and stand back, and watch the situation, and not be involved with it. It also appears to be a god like figure which is effective as it gives us a change in perspective and acts as an omen making us apprehensive. Another reference in the first chaoter to omens would be “the event I am about to describe-the fall” the fall maybe refuring to when, in the bible Eve ate the apple and all the evil in the world came about.
We get the impression that the narrator is obsessed with time, as he refures to it so often, “fourty minutes later” for example, this, again adds to the feeling that a police inquiery has taken place, or that what is to come is so fatal, and so traumatic, that it cannot be forgotton or replaced with any other feelings or emotions. The narrator also seems to be obsessed with physics and maths, “the convergence of six figures in a flat green space has a comforting geometry” he is a well educated man to be able to refure to geometry and how comfortable it is. This gives readers a bigger insite into what Joe is like without actually telling them.
I think the few paragraphs about the airport,passengers arriving and being greated by their loved ones, are really effective as, even tho it again is enother decoy to avoid letting readers know anymore about the rest of the story, I feel that this is effective as it gives readers a chance to relate to the situation more easily, as everybody loves someone, and this would make the story more believable and realistic. This reference to love is also portrayed when reading details of Joe and Clarissa’s love lives, “we set off down the path arm in arm” “and the months we spent falling in love” Joe talks a lot about Clarissa. Clarissa seems very intelegent to be able to have such a great understanding of Keats and his life, Joe appears very affectionate of her to be able to listen and understand what she is interested in his love for her showing how strong their relationship is, again helping readers develop a closeness to the characters.
