Trauma, Obsession, and Fragile Relationships: A Character Analysis of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love

Abstract

Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love explores the psychological effects of trauma, obsession, and emotional conflict through its major characters. This paper examines Joe Rose, Jed Parry, Clarissa Mellon, and John Logan to understand how a single traumatic event changes individual lives and human relationships. The balloon accident and the death of John Logan become the starting points of psychological disturbance in the novel. Joe experiences guilt, fear, and emotional insecurity after witnessing the accident. His condition becomes more difficult when Jed develops an obsessive attachment to him. Jed’s behaviour presents a distorted form of love based on delusion rather than mutual understanding. At the same time, Clarissa struggles to understand Joe’s growing fear and anxiety. Her doubts gradually create emotional distance and weaken their relationship. John Logan’s death also remains an important source of guilt and moral conflict throughout the narrative. Using qualitative textual analysis and close reading, this study examines the actions, emotions, conversations, and relationships of these characters. The study finds that McEwan uses characterization to show that trauma does not remain within an individual. It affects trust, communication, intimacy, and emotional security. The paper concludes that Enduring Love presents love as a fragile human bond that can be deeply challenged by trauma, obsession, fear, and uncertainty.