... to introduce the constructed character Joe and the well-ordered world in which he lives to the reader, establishing him as the viewpoint and narrator for the majority of the novel. The narrator's description of the picnic in the first chapter ...

... of a police interview. The policeman himself is a conventional character-he has a 'large round face', and seems quite disinterested in Joe's complaint. The police station is described as a worn down, fairly lazy place, with 'friction, and a great ...

... compels Joe to face all hurdles, including the instances of murder and madness; she adds enough excitement to the novel. There are innumerable instances when the reader faces suspicion, surprise and above all fear. The complicated relationship between these two ...

... follow the plot. The setting, particularly where the balloon incident occurs, is typical of a detective novel. The setting is very idyllic, where "each leaf seemed to glow with an eternal light". This indicates tranquillity and peacefulness; therefore making the thought ...

... develop the plot. The primary theme in this chapter is around relationships: Joe's relationship with Clarissa and Jed's relationship with Joe. Joe is feeling as though he is a "failure in science". He is not sure whether it was "brought ...

... takes in the reader's attention by leading the reader on to the next big thing which is coming up by continuing to read the novel. Furthermore, adult Stephen remains for all of chapter one . Prior to this, adult ...

... that "nothing odd will do long. Tristram Shandy did not last"; but in opposition to that European critics such as Voltaire and later Goethe praised the book, "clearly superior". (www.sparknotes.com/lit/sterne). "The novel may have been for Sterne and his contemporaries ...

... There are several reasons why this may be, but looking at Joes character - quite a straight laced, level headed person - it is more likely that Joe was embarrassed by what was said during the call as it is ...

... than fifty theatrical happy endings, each one with the appearance of being slightly less well acted than the one before, until I began to feel emotionally exhausted." This is a brief view into how Joe thinks. He is very pessimistic ...

... on the balloon with Joe using hindsight to express his regret because it allows the "catastrophe" to seem more enigmatic and hopeless. We the audience are already aware of the outcome due to the narrator's reference to "the encounter that ...

... Joe does notice that Parry seems rather odd, as he tells us "Even then, he was more interested in me". The next incident is the unexpected phone call from Jed when Joe is back home, late at night. Which makes ...

... that seem to empower Parry like 'you must never...' and 'take a swing at me - if you dare', (p138) the last statement almost taunting Joe. The most frightening statement of all, however, has to be a section of the ...

... childhood and adulthood, there is a constant conflict present within Darke of being a child and of being an adult. His successful political career shows that he must have debating skill and great intellect however at the same time his ...

... virtuous suicide to achieve a solace from the world of her physical oppression and instead achieve a "better place." For Clarissa this better place is her true "father's house": heaven, the place of virtue and true sentiment away from a ...

... McEwan vaguely presents Jed in the beginning of the novel, in chapter 1 as more of his character is revealed in chapter 2. Jed is physically, merely described as: "He was twenty-eight, unemployed, living on an inheritance in Hampstead". ...

... Another difference between the chapters is that things which either Joe or Jed does in Chapter 2 would be construed very differently by Chapter 7. For instance, the quotation, 'this was when I noticed Jed Parry watching me.' Would be ...

... these two characters that it is necessary to think about them as about the two sides of one coin, the two sides of human's personality. The story takes place on the June day in London after the war. It explores ...

... be representational of clarity, which could even be linked to her name 'Clarissa' An example of this is when Joe is described a confused 'I couldn't fit the speed of my thoughts' this is juxopposed to Clarissa showing a clear ...

... words briefly, but fatefully: this moment is the catalyst for an obsession by the younger man, Jed Parry, for Joe. Joe Rose is a science journalist, and McEwan uses his rationalism repeatedly as a foil to Parry's seemingly irrational fixation. ...

... in the first chapter alongside John Logan. This indicates they must be important to be mentioned so early and McEwan gives us a hint that this character is one to be noted of as Joe picks him out, "knowing what ...

... "Even without the balloon the day would have been marked for memory, through the most pleasurable of ways, for this was a reuniting after a separation of six weeks, the longest Clarissa and I had spent apart in our seven ...

... perhaps, and manipulates the reader to such great extents that by page four, one is already pulling at the lead to find out where this strange encounter is going. The narrator describes his visit to Heathrow to collect Clarissa and ...

... and yet now Jed is a threat and he can call the police into the situation he thinks about doing it in the car but realises that he himself has a gun on him so he would be convicted to. ...

... left with a number of different questions in your head. Who is the narrator? McEwan is very effective with the way he writes this first chapter, he creates suspense that entices you to read on. The narrative viewpoint is very ...

... line is covered by the romantic mood. When in fact it is a very cool and almost scientific phrase, which seems out of place in the romantic setting, it also sounds very ominous. It suggests a point in time that ...