I finished reading ‘On Chesil Beach’ by Ian McEwan last week. It’s short novel and easy to read, not quite comfortable, could find it strange However, eventually it’s exquisite reading!
When I first finished this reading, I found Edward was so poor and thought it was not his problem, he just got normal ambition to have wife, sex, children, what’s wrong with his ambition. It’s all fine. we should not blame his life, his ambition and his decision. I thought I understood him more than Florence.
However, there is a thing. Florence was only his real love that he wanted to keep his memories with her forever in his lifetime. It could have been different if he had made some time like a week or even a day to think their relationship rather than just letting her go one the beach.
I liked McEwan’s way of bringing the physical character of the landscape. The shore line of the Chesil beach is famous for its amazing horizontal landscape with endless one line peddle paved shore. When Florence passed by him and was walking down the beach towards the hotel, Edward could have caught her in a line between him and her. Amazingly on the Chesil beach they were alway in a line from the hotel and where she and he faced each other last. We think the relationship of love is complex, but it is probably very simple like On the Chesil beach, one line relationship. One line Chesil beach seems like a time line that you could change your future and your love in future. All we need to know is love is accompanied and retained by patience. It is beautiful metaphor of our relationship that McEwan created.
To be honest, On Chesil Beach reminded me of my previous love and I was wondering whether I dealt with my love like Edward, believed to be uncompromising for my love but for my selfish sake of my self-respect.
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