Obsession, defined as the inability of a person to stop thinking about a particular topic or feeling a certain emotion without a high amount of anxiety, is present in millions around the world. From a favorite celebrity, to a catchy song, almost everyone suffers from obsession. Enduring Love, written by Ian McEwan, displays several levels of obsession, from mild to dangerously severe, that are present in the three main characters: Clarissa Mellon, Joe Rose, and Jed Parry. In the beginning chapters of the novel, Joe Rose, the protagonist, and Jed Parry, the antagonist, are involved in the accidental death of a man while trying to save a malfunctioning hot air balloon. This event not only causes an internal struggle in Clarissa and Rose, it also