Atonement

In class, we discussed the idea that everyone in Ian McEwan's Atonement, was guilty in some form or another. The major source of conflict in the novel revolves around one day and night at the Tallis household in England. Consequently, each individual's search for their own form of atonement finds its roots in that one fateful evening, an evening in which childish ignorance becomes entangled with adult interests and motives.

After finishing the story and reviewing the outcome, it's unclear to me whether or not anyone really finds reparations for the acts that have taken place on the aforementioned day. The closest any of the characters make it to finding atonement comes in the form of Briony's sister Cecilia, and her lover Robbie; and even they don't realize atonement until death. In death, they are relieved of the events that have plagued them in their lives. Robbie no longer lives with the burden of being wrongly condemned a rapist, while neither of them have to live with the burden of separation from each other. Death truly is their atonement, and the one place they may be able to find peace.

Of the main characters in the story, I feel that Marshall, Lola, and Briony never achieve true atonement. Marshall and Lola, especially Marshall, despite repeated efforts, are the ones, in the end, that are the most guilty of transgression. It's fairly clear that Marshall is the rapist, the guilty man who goes outwardly unpunished. We see later on in the story, how a now wealthy Marshall tries to contribute to the war effort for Britain, an effort I feel to essentially make himself feel better about the sins he had previously committed. Also, on the night of the conflict, Lola is painted as the victim, but by the end, I'm less convinced of her position...I see her in a different, darker light. In retrospect, I feel a sense of disdain for her because I think she knew it was Marshall who raped her and not Robbie. She marries Marshall and never comes forward to admit it wasn't Robbie who raped her. Finally, we come to Briony. She seeks, her entire life, to make amends for actions. She tries both with Cecilia and with Robbie. Briony follows Cecilia's footsteps and becomes a nurse working in a hospital that tends to the wounded from World War II. She also writes a book chronicling the events surrounding all that happened. I feel she does these things to find atonement for herself and her actions. However, she never really seeks out Cecilia or Robbie's forgiveness. By the end, I still feel her selfishness overrides her attempts for atonement.

Consequently, I never really feel sorry Briony at all. Some points exist when the reader may see Briony come close to becoming a person who is less selfish and able to make amends. However, she never really makes it. Throughout the story we see her in somewhat of a pitiful light, at points where she may overcome her childish selfishness, and begin to garner some sympathy. Briony never comes forward to publicly announce that she was wrong, and give Robbie a chance at being acquitted. I never really felt compelled to be sympathetic towards Briony.