How does McEwan successfully engage the reader in the first chapter?.
The first chapter is the most significant in the entire book. It is where the story begins. The ballooning accident that takes place in the first chapter triggers the rest of the events that take place in the novel. The events that take place before, during and just after "the fall" prepares reader's for the themes and story lines that will follow, and also hints at what is to come. .
The first chapter introduces the main characters within the novel. The readers are given clues to their personalities and begin to understand their characters. The main character is Joe. By reading the first chapter the reader can see that Joe thinks very much scientifically, with lack of emotion. He has a scientific approach to life, believing there is a logical reason for everything. There are many times in the first chapter where Joe shows emotion, but then quickly covers it up with science. When Joe hears a man shout and child cry he automatically starts running towards the sounds of desperation. When he notices four other men also running towards the field, he describes himself and Jed Parry as "rushing towards each other like lovers". He quickly covers the emotional subject of love up with scientific terms in the next line. He uses words such as "colossus", "ratio" and "magnitude" to describe the power coming from the centre of the field that "drew him in" to forthcoming danger. Joe often makes situations scientific to try to make sense of it and stay in control. By not showing emotions he detaches himself from situations and escapes emotional pain later. .
Clarrissa is Joe's partner and has a very much different view to life. She is a Romanticist. She is very in touch with her emotions. Her work and interests reflect this. Joe feels that she is in love with two men - him and the poet Keats. Clarissa researches into Keats past. When the ballooning accident occurs Clarissa cries when John Logan falls to his death, not ashamed to show how she is feeling.