Ian McEwan’s novel ‘On Chesil Beach’ set in July 1962 is a...

Ian McEwan’s novel ‘On Chesil Beach’ set in July 1962 is a story of a few crucial hours in the lives of a newly-wed couple on their wedding night that horribly goes out of kilter. It is a story of a day in the life of a young couple- Edward Mayhew and Florence Ponting, who have just been married and are spending their honeymoon in a small hotel on the Dorset seashore at Chesil Beach on English Channel. There is a significant difference in the couple’s family status, with Edward- the son of a schoolmaster and Florence- the musically gifted daughter of a wealthy industrialist and an Oxford philosophy lecturer. However, both are smart, well-read young people with promising futures. The story unfolds the course of events of a fateful evening†¦show more content†¦Thus, the newly-wed couple were about to start their lives in the critical time of 1960s, an era beset with complexities and challenges that has unpleasant effect on their social life. The book predominantly deals with the issue of sexual autonomy and dives into the consciousness of the characters bringing forth the minutia of the event. Edward, an earnest history student with little experience of women, is sexually motivated and though intelligent has a taste for rash behaviour, while Florence, daughter of an Oxford academic and a successful businessman, is bound by the social code of another era (and having been sexually abused by her father) is terrified of sexual intimacy. The author skilfully develops on the character’s inadequacy when it comes to their sexuality. McEwan presents Florence as the one with puzzling and obscure intentions and reactions. She is quite a bossy lead violinist in a string quartet; which gives the impression of her being someone who would confidently express her interest in sex. â€Å"The Florence who led her quartet, who coolly imposed her will, would never meekly submit to conventional expectations. She was no lamb to be uncomplainingly knifed. Or penetrated. She would demand of herself what it was exactly she wanted and did not want from her marriage, and she would say so out loud to Edward, and expect to discover some form of compromise with him.† But