Examine the relationship between Jed and Joe as it develops through the course of the novel.

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Examine the relationship between Jed and Joe as it develops through the course of the novel.

From the very start of the novel “Enduring Love” it is made clear that the relationship between Jed and Jose Joe begins on an awkward note; Jed followed Joe to the scene of Logan’s death and Joe describes his appearance as “threatening”. With the assistance of Joe’s retrospective observations we learn that this is the start of Jed’s obsession, having misinterpreted a “friendly nod” from Joe as a sign of love. This awkwardness is further increased as Jed attempts to convince Joe to “pray together”; something that should usually be an intimate affair between loved ones, rather than complete strangers. The fact that Jed goes on to talk about Joe’s partner Clarissa in an over-amicable manner as if he also knew her confirms Joe’s view that his behaviour was particularly peculiar. With retrospect, Joe claims it is now “odd to evoke the figure of Jed…” which confirms that from his first meeting an uneasiness had already developed in his mind and that the relationship between him and Jed was one doomed to failure.

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The extent of Jed’s delusional belief in a romantic relationship existing between himself and Joe is fully established at the very end of chapter three – structurally placed at the end to give the most emphasis. Jed calls Joe at 2AM in the morning and says “I just wanted you to know, I understand what you’re feeling. I feel it too. I love you”. The degree of threat from the phone call is particularly multiplied as it is a real, physical threat rather than something abstract – it is not something that can be ignored. Furthermore, the fact that the ...

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