Joe’s style of narrative also seems to change with the events occurring. When they are attempting to rescue Harry Gadd he gives a descriptive report of everyone, which sounds considerably like the tone of a police report, which is something that would have definitely been carried out after those events. Also after his encounter with Jed in chapter two, where Jed asks him to join him in prayer we can see that Joe has been visibly affected as a result in chapter three. His language has changed and there is a frequent use of religious terms – ‘my breakfast coffee cup and newspaper seemed blasphemous’. This quote shows the unusual use of a religious term alongside seemingly normal events as breakfast. This seems to symbolise Joe’s current mind that alongside all the normal things he is doing this new religious influence is teetering subconsciously in the back of his mind. This technique gives the reader the impression that they can read Joe’s mind easily through his language. It also lets the reader feel confident as it shows McEwan knows what he is doing and has taken great pains to construct it.
He is also very observant and perceptive -something we realise through his detailed account of the airport. This is a brilliant technique to have as the reader gets the full picture of the scene that is being set. But I feel there is room for criticism in McEwan’s choice of character. Joe is someone that is very analytical and has a scientific nature. This means his descriptions are mechanical in a sense not allowing us to experience the emotions and only the events. Also his scientific interests reflect his language –‘the convergence of six figures in a flat green space has a comforting geometry’-. I think his scientific views on events do not appeal to most people and dulls the events making them slightly boring.
I think Joe is a character who knows he is in charge of the narrative. For example, when he says ‘let me freeze the frame’ it gives the impression that he is the director of a film that we are watching. This point is further backed up by his vision for cinematic imagery, such as with the view of the buzzard or him and Parry running towards each other like lovers. He also says –‘best to slow down’- which is like him talking to himself. He is altering the pace of the narrative and it is under his direction and he is in full control. He takes full advantage of this by going backwards and forward through time and in places. This is a good technique because it gives the reader the idea that Joe is in complete control and knows what he is doing.
“ The beginning is simple to mark”:
The first sentence in the narrative is very significant as it entices the reader leaving them feeling obscure and having to read on.
McEwan also switches the mood abruptly to indicate a fast pace. He even switches the genre from the romance of the picnic to the action of the balloon – ‘the transformation was absolute’. This gives the reader a fast pace to keep up with which means there is no room for them to wander off in their own thoughts but instead will be absorbed by the action.
A common but effective technique used by McEwan is his use of ominous language to create suspense and to unhinge and prompt the reader to want to read on – ‘knowing what I know now’, ‘everything, every gesture, every word I spoke was being stored away, gathered and piled, fuel for the long winter of his obsession’.
McEwan even uses a blend of language to make the reader react to the language and consequently feel more personally to the book. For example in this quote, ‘we turned across the field and saw the danger’ the word ‘danger’ sticks out from an otherwise calm sentence. This blend of language and use of other effective words creatively placed in sentences are almost certain to evoke reactions from the reader.
McEwan also hints at authenticity in Enduring Love giving real names and places and even the balloon accident is not a totally unbelievable incident. This sense of the narrative occurring in the real world and one that British readers may be vaguely familiar with makes the readers feel it is much more believable.
The characters appearing in the novel are also quite intriguing and will interest the reader. The most intriguing character will no doubt be Jed Parry. He is a religious character and there are hints of him being homosexual. There are big hints by Joe that he proves a major role in the novel – ‘had I known what this glance meant to him… I would not have been so warm’, although at present it is unclear, the ominous signs are clearly present. He is also an unusual character, which is denoted by his praying over the dead body of Logan. His phone call to Joe at the end of chapter three gives it an almost cliffhanger ending. Especially after his seemingly homosexual comments to Joe readers will definitely be interested in this unusual character and how he will play a major role in the narrative.
