1) Why do you think Adam Henry is so attached by Fiona Maye?

In my opinion, Adam Henry is so attached by Fiona Maye because he considers her as a brilliant and  fascinating woman. Indeed, he is fascinated by her vision of life. Since he grew up in a Jehovah’s Witnesses’ family he focused all his life on religion beliefs without taking in consideration other points of view, which may change his idea about the world. Fiona’s decision compels him for the first time to face a different point of view, in this case the juridical one, that makes him reflect upon important themes such as the importance of life and also of the human being’s decisional power. As a consequence, Adam becomes aware of the preciousness of life thanks to Fiona. For this reason he feels grateful to her.

2) Why did Fiona Maye kiss him?

I think Fiona Maye kissed him because he gave her the attentions she needed. Indeed, Fiona was  disappointed with her husband because he had been unfaithful to her. Therefore the lack of the husband’s attentions towards her was replaced by Adam’ obsession for her. In other words, Adam’s actions reflected all his esteem and devotion towards her. Through his behaviour Adam surprised  Fiona and made her feel important for someone. On the contrary, her husband was unable to prove his love for her.

3) Make a comparison between “The Children Act” introduction and the “Bleak House” one.

Both introductions present the same structure. They start with a place reference that is “London”. The place reference is followed by a time reference; respectively “Trinity Term one week old” in McEwan’s novel and “Michealmas Term lately over” in Dickens’s one. After the time reference there is a piece of information about the weather conditions; “Implacable June weather” in McEwan’s novel and “Implacable November weather” in Dickens’s one. McEwan and Dickens use the same adjective “implacable” that connotes the seasonal weather. The setting references are short and incisive so they make the reader aware of the setting where the story starts. After the information about the weather conditions, the writers go on telling the story.