Unraveling Identity in Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love

Abstract

The present paper aims to focus on the relationship between narrative and human identity and the process of identity construction in McEwen’s Enduring Love. This study aims to show how the process of identity construction reveals to be one that is both relational and strongly dependent upon expression. The novel begins with the major character’s narration of a balloon incident, which has served as the starting point for the fragmentation and dispersion of the protagonist, Joe, whom looking back at the incident, is now trying to put the fragments together to reconstruct his shattered identity. In this procedure, not only are we presented with Joe’s narrative but also that of Clarissa, Joe’s wife and Jed Perry, whom believes there is a special love between himself and Joe which Joe is denying. Each character has his/her own narrative to consider as a means of exercising power and neither is willing to accept the other’s’ narrative.

Key words: Narrative; Identity construction; Reconstruction; Fragmented self