Another feature of Jed’s personality that is noticeable throughout the novel is his references to nature: -
“the wet grass reminds me…you brushed the top of a hedge with your hand…there was a glow, a kind of burning of my fingers on those wet leaves.” In the appendix II, he refers to it again to link him to Joe: -
“You’re right, when the sun comes up behind the trees they turn black. The twigs at the very top are tangled against the sky.” This image makes me think of Jed viewing the twigs as his and Joe’s hands, inter-linking in God’s earth.
What I find odd about this letter is the lack of anger Jed shows towards the “shuffling, muttering, dribbling” patients in the mental hospital with him. He shows no resentment, just faith for one day being with Joe, and bringing him to God. Earlier in the book McEwan portrayed Jed as quite a violent character when he ”pulled out a short bladed knife which he drew through the air in a wide semi-circular motion.” Also, at one point he was portrayed as being quite abusive: -
“I know what you want you fuck. You fuck!” This apparent peace with the world could suggest either him getting better and accepting he was in a mental hospital which he couldn’t do anything about, or it suggests his condition has deteriorated and he feels no need for violence now he believes Joe is “loving…respecting and recognising” him.
Another sign of Jed’s deterioration is the fact that he thinks Joe is actually reading and responding to his letters: -
“Send me a new message soon.” However, this sentence has a double meaning. Jed could mean for Joe to send him a new letter, or a message could be something that Joe would send through nature or signals. He shows no awareness or sadness that he doesn’t actually receive any replies to the letters. Jed now thinks Joe has started “loving…respecting” and “recognising” him. This is really all he appeared to want from him in the first place: -
“never…ignore me…or deny the difficulty of love…never deny my reality.” This indicates the complete fantasy world Jed is living in. He is totally sheltered from all the ‘normal’ ways of life so he has to conjure up life in his head. Outside the hospital, although seriously mentally disturbed, at least he had some grasp of reality in the fact that Joe did not want to be with him, which, is why he attempted to kill himself.
ii. For me, the appendices are a suitable conclusion for “Enduring Love”. It concludes what has happened to Jed Parry and his current mental state. It links in with the title proving how anybody can fall in love with anybody. The book shows how Joe had to endure (defined in the dictionary as a verb meaning to last; bear; undergo) being loved by Jed and the appendix II shows how Jed is enduring loving Joe.
The appendices also show how easy it is to be tricked. The psychological report of de Clérambaults, with the case study being “P”, i.e. Jed Parry, reads to make us think that the whole book was based on this case study McEwan knew about from the ‘British Journal of Psychiatry’ (not actually a real book). However, really he had written it himself. Obviously, McEwan will not have fooled every reader, but it seriously makes you think and ask questions about the reality of the novel. A book that forces the reader to ask questions, I think, is always worth reading. When I read “Enduring Love” for the first time, I actually thought Joe had written the report. He had always talked of “getting back into science” and I thought this was how he eventually did it, by getting into psychology. I felt proud of Joe for writing such a coherent, informative and compelling report. These varieties of interpretations that can be made from the appendices all subtly conclude the novel but also leave room for other areas of discussion.
The appendices successfully manage to move on time. In many books, this is not done well, and makes a sloppy ending. However, the convincing and intelligent writing of McEwan makes the ending entirely appropriate.
It gives weight to the story by showing different styles of writing. Throughout the majority of the novel, it is written in the first person narrative from Joe’s point of view. The factual, objective and unemotional language of appendix I is therefore a sharp contrast to the rest of the novel and shows off McEwan’s ability to write in a variety of styles. It gives a strong sense of authenticity. With appendix II reverting back to the personal and more intimate first person narrative we get to see things from Jed’s point of view. This confirms just about everything Joe that had tried to convince the reader, the police and Clarissa, about Jed: -
“I adore you. I live for you.”
iii. By various incidents throughout the novel, I think McEwan experiments with the idea of pre-destination, particularly with Joe and Clarissa. Until reading this question I had not really thought about the aspect of lives being planned out for you and karma, in the novel “Enduring Love”. However, I feel it could be quite relevant.
The balloon incident could be a sign of Joe’s life being pre-destined. He was about to propose to Clarissa on the day of the accident, but just as ‘Clarissa was passing the bottle’ over which Joe would propose, they heard a man’s shout. He therefore never gets round to doing so. This is perhaps a sign that they are not yet ready to get married. The problems they run into during the novel prove this point. There appears to be a lack of communication when Joe and Clarissa are low, whether that low is because of work or Jed Parry: -
“Clarissa does not hear reason.” As the plot develops, Clarissa eventually moves out saying she thinks they “need some time apart”. From the appendix I, however, we learn that Clarissa and Joe are “reconciled”. Naturally, the reader assumes that they go on and get married, having overcome their relationship problems. If it had not have been for the balloon incident and all the incidents proceeding it, Clarissa and Joe may have got married, then realised their relationship was perhaps not as strong as it ought to have been. A breakdown of the relationship in marriage may not have resulted in them getting back together. And obviously it is far better to sort out any problems before getting married as opposed to afterwards.
I think McEwan is suggesting that Clarissa’s life could be pre-destined with regard to children. In her early twenties, because of a medical mix-up “Clarissa was left unable to bear children.” Nevertheless, in the appendix I we learn that Clarissa and Joe “successfully adopted a child.” Although this child is not her own, she still is able to care and look after a child just as any other biological mother would be able to. Clarissa has always wanted children, and destiny finally allows her the pleasures of mother hood. However, I think this story line could also be viewed as a person trying to altar destiny. Being left unable to have children naturally, it is a physical impossibility for Clarissa to be a biological mother. However, she is not prepared to accept this fact, therefore adopts a child in order to full-fill her dream.
Finally Jed shows his belief in pre-destiny. He believes it is his destiny to be with Joe and bring him to God: -
“…everyday I spend here brings you one tiny step closer to that glorious light, His love…you also become mine.” I think this is why he does not get mad in the appendix II, as he knows one day he will be with Joe, regardless of what he has to go through to finally be with him. Joe, however, is an example of a character who would most certainly not believe in pre-destination. His mind works in a very logical and scientifical way: -
“You’re so rational sometimes.” He shows no belief in karma or fate when he says to Clarissa: -
“I thought even you were above this new age drivel.” The way in which pre-destination appears in “Enduring Love”, I think, depends on the personal feelings and views of the reader.
