← Back to Current Issue — Volume 1, Issue 5
British LiteratureArticle 5 · Vol. 1, Issue 5, September 2026 · pp. 41–49
Trauma, Obsession, and Fragile Relationships: A Character Analysis of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love
Dr. K. S. Mangayarkkarassi
Assistant Professor and Head, Department of English (Aided), Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
Mrs. P. Bala Muthu Marieswari
Ph.D. Scholar (PT), Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore & Lecturer, Department of English, PSG Polytechnic College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
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.
Keywords:
Ian McEwanEnduring LoveTraumaObsessionCharacter AnalysisFragile RelationshipsPsychological Conflict
How to Cite
Mangayarkkarassi, K. S., & Bala Muthu Marieswari, P. (2026). Trauma, Obsession, and Fragile Relationships: A Character Analysis of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love. Veritas: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(5), 41–49. https://doi.org/10.67788/veritas.2026.1.5.005
DOI: https://doi.org/10.67788/veritas.2026.1.5.005
Download Full PDF ↗ Open Access 
