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On chesil beach Essay

Decent Essays

What does the language and structure of the opening sequence of ‘On Chesil Beach’, reveal about the two protagonists characters.

The initial information that we learn from Ian McEwan in the opening paragraph, about the two protagonist characters in ‘On Chesil beach’ is that they are newlyweds on their wedding night, and that they are extremely inexperienced of anything remotely sexual and are both fairly ignorant of the subject. The phrase, ‘They lived in a time when a conversation about sexual difficulties was plainly impossible’ describes how one of the factors of their ignorance is the time period that they live in, the 1960’s, perhaps can be called the beginning of the ‘sexual revolution’. However, the two characters, Edward and …show more content…

The words ‘both virgins’ and ‘sexual difficulties’ almost certainly foreshadows to the reader how voyeuristic and sexually orientated the book is going to be. So in a way, the opening passage is a warning to the reader, bracing them for what difficulties are to be imposed upon Edward and Florence. The structure of the opening sequence also perhaps expresses strong similarities between the two protagonists, both being ‘young, educated and both virgins’, both of approximately the same age and both experiencing the same distinguishing changes in their life, suggests that they will be the perfect people for each other, but in reality, this leads to them having separate views, described through McEwans language.

Although the structure sets the scene for what sexual inexperience and difficulties lie ahead for Edward and Florence, the actual language techniques that Ian McEwan uses throughout the opening sequence, really brings the characters to life an gives an extremely vivid image to who the two protagonists actually are and most importantly, their underlying emotions to the subject of sex. First of all, McEwan uses harsh, coarse and direct words to vividly express how fearful Edward and Florence feel about engaging in physical contact for the first time. For Edward, the words ‘absurdity’, ‘disappointment’,

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