Due to a routine surgical procured going wrong Clarissa has been left unable to bear children. This has made her change her outcome in life since the operation. . A friends child died only being a few weeks old Clarissa was unable to cope with the lose of a small child and broke down “ what was revealed was Clarissa’s mourning of a phantom child.
In chapter one we learn that a balloon crashes in to a field, and it is going to affect Jo and Clarissa’s life. The opening line of the novel is “the beginning is simple to mark” this shows that this significant part of the story and can easily be remembered. Joe declares his love for Clarissa by preparing romantic picnics were he is going to present her with a book he has bought to show his love for her. This book is one of the most expensive things that Joe has bought apart from his apartment and car. He really loves Clarissa and has being waiting so long for her to return home.
The balloon crash is a lot like the beginning of the relationship break up between Joe and Clarissa. Joe describes the four men as been seen from a “buzzards perspective” and “limited plane of the snooker table”. Joe uses his scientific knowledge to show how he thinks a bird of pray would see the action going on in the field. I see the idea of the snooker table as a group of balls in a triangle and the white ball coming to destroy all trust and predictability. It could also be seen, as the person running in as the white ball rolls in the situation getting’s worse.
The response from Joe when Logan dies is confusing he really doesn’t know what to do with himself as he is insecure in this position. Nobody knows who let go of the rope first it could have been him!!! The other characters at this time just stand still in shock but Joe can and ends up wanting to make sure he knows that Logan is dead for himself. As he is in a deep state of shock he is un- able to support him self Clarissa holds him up “I unclasped Clarissa’s arms from around my waist and turned. It did not occur she was trying to hold me steady”. Clarissa is worried about Joe’s state he can control his mind and wants to explore. With Joes exploring scientific background I think this makes him want to make sure that Logan is dead as for everything a scientist explores he wants to prove its right
Clarissa on the other hand just wants to leave Logan lying there, as she knows he must of died on impact to the ground. She might have also seen who let go of the rope as it says in chapter 1 “was well placed as an observer”.
Both characters contrast each other’s reactions as the death is revealed. She is protective of him but he reacts .Its in a format, which is in a format much like call and response.
Clarissa also goes up to Joe after the fall and presses her face into his back. He feels the wetness of her face on his cloths. Clarissa’s fondness for children makes her very upset at the fact that maybe Joe should have fallen, as he has no children. Logan did have children and has sacrificed his life to save a child. Joe says “ He wanted to save the kid” once this is said Clarissa shakes her head in disagreement as in to say why wasn’t you who saved the kid not some one who had children and a loving wife “he had children of his own a good man”
After Joe goes down to see if Logan is alive Parry shortly follows him. We then find out parry is extremely religious. Once both of them realise that there is nothing they can do but wait, parry realises there is something they can do pray. Joe finds away to lower Parry’s offer, as he doesn’t believe in anything like that. Joe has to have a theory behind everything he like in science. Parry asks why he doesn’t believe in what he does and Joe reply’s with “because my friend there is nothing their”.
After this consultation by Parry Joe later learns that Parry went and introduced his self to Clarissa. When down beside the body of Logan Parry tells Joe “Clarissa is worried about you”. Joe wants to no why has got Clarissa involved. Later on Joe finds out that parry had only spoken to Clarissa for a short time. Joe then realises that he loves Clarissa and wants to keep her to himself.
Over all the presentation of Joe shows that he is a worried person and can easily be lead in to believing things told to him. He is also very scientific and interlectual.
Clarissa is a kind heart hearted person who genuinely loves children
