Exploration of How Ian McEwan Hooks the Reader in the Opening Three Chapters of Enduring Love

888 Words2 Pages

Exploration of How Ian McEwan Hooks the Reader in the Opening Three Chapters of Enduring Love

In McEwan's book Enduring Love, he uses a wide variety of techniques

to intrigue and hook the reader. He begins his story with the

startling and dramatic scenario of a hot air balloon accident. He

begins his story in medias res (in the middle of things). This is a

significantly effective technique as it plunges the reader into the

middle of a dramatic scenario without having dragged them through a

boring introduction first. This immediate element of excitement and

drama experienced by the reader in the beginning will no doubt have a

very positive first impression on the reader, as they will be absorbed

instantly by the fast pace and action.

McEwan also attempts to hook us with the use of a very interesting

narrator in the form of Joe Rose. He is a character who has the

technique of withholding details, which creates suspense - 'I'm

holding back, delaying the information'. This point is emphasized in

the fact that it takes three chapters for us to find out that Harry

Gadd came down safely. He is presented to us as a very imaginative,

deep thinking character, which we can see by the way he takes up

different perspectives on events - e.g. 'the buzzard'. He tells the

narrative in retrospect, which allows him to craft the narrative to

his desire by switching backwards and forwards on his thoughts giving

the reader a wider picture. But because he's telling the narrative in

retrospect he also seems to withhold information and some events are

unclear. For example we don't know if he was the first person to let

go of the balloon - 'around me -befo...

... middle of paper ...

...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.

Open Document