How Does Mcewan Depict the Breakdown in Joe and Clarissa’s?

How does McEwan depict the breakdown in Joe and Clarissas relationship in the middle section of the novel? McEwan initially portrays Clarissa and Joe as the ideal couple, capturing the agreemingly stable love affair between devil academics. However, McEwan seeks to explore the disintegration of the superior middle-class romance, to emphasise how nothing is safe. To the illiterate reader, everything about the relationship is calm and admirable. Yet difficulties begin to surface advance(prenominal) in the novel.The reader learns how Clarissa is unable to bear children something which the reader can see is hidden from daily life, but obviously has a profound center on the relationship. To add to this, Joe is unhappy about his status in the scientific community. He feels his work as a lecturer is not enough, and this causes his self-worth to come over time. Joe longs for a perfect life, with a perfect c atomic number 18er and for his interests to be satisfied. Everything down to t he expensive wine at the picnic suggests Joe seeks idol.Similarly, Clarissa also seeks perfection but instead, strives for the ideal romance, idealised by her literary idol, John Keats. McEwan focuses on a breakdown of communication throughout the middle section of the novel. some(prenominal) conversations between the couple atomic number 18 brief and rushed, without consideration for the others words. Chapter 9 is significant for the development of Joe and Clarissas relationships collapse as the reader is invited to witness the events from Clarissas perspective.Through McEwans technique, the reader can view the hardships of Clarissas day, to recognise the daily stresses of her personal and professional life. We see Clarissas cloudiness at Joes apparent manic state, the communication issues, All this lecture and listening thats supposed to be good for couples. Joe simply cannot sidetrack Clarissa alone he is dependent on her for mental support and he fails to recognise when sh e needs time to herself.Throughout Chapter 9, we learn that Joe is trusting Clarissa and coming on rather strongly, but his intensity is inhibiting her. However, it is at this point where we recognise that Clarissa is cosmos told the whole story, despite claims later in the novel that she isnt, she simply doesnt take the correct amount of interest. The three obvious milestones of the breakdown are the balloon incident, Jed hold overs intervention and Joes evident depression. Parry appears as the main catalyst, as he highlights the couples flaws.Trust is a huge issue between Joe and Clarissa, as made obvious when Joe fails to proclaim Clarissa of Parrys late darkness phone call, I hit the sack I made my first serious mistake when I off-key on my side and I said to her It was nothing. Wrong number. His actions could suggest he simply didnt want to worry Clarissa at such a time, but also could ring early alarm bells for problems of trust. Trust issues are also evident when Joe r aids Clarissas study, frantically searching for evidence of an affair. curtly after this, they begin to sleep in separate beds, ceasing the late night discussions and passionate love-making.