Chapter 10
Summary
Briony runs away from her sister and up to her room to get ready for dinner. While there, she tries to write. We find out that Briony opened the letter and discovered the rated R content. The “c” word was foreign to her, but she correctly assumes its meaning. As she sits and wonders what to do next, Lola enters her room.
Lola begins crying because her brothers are torturing her, saying that it was Lola's fault for being stuck in the Tallis house, and not their parents. She shows Briony scratches on her arm and chafing on her wrists, which she claims comes from her brothers attacking her. Briony, although surprised that two little boys could be so violent, consoles Lola (however, Lola’s pain also gives Briony a little satisfaction) and they have a bonding moment, moving towards friends instead of enemies. Lola confided in Briony partly to get her mind off her parents and brothers and partly for the need to tell someone. Briony shares the contents of the letter with Lola. Lola identifies Robbie as a “maniac” and suggests they go directly to the police.
Lola heads down to dinner after being summoned by Emily; Briony stays to fix her hair and face. Eventually, she makes it downstairs but instead of going directly to the dining room, she goes into the library after hearing a scraping noise and a thump come from within.
Briony enters the study and discovers Robbie and Cecilia pinned up in the corner. She thinks that Robbie is attacking Cecilia and that her sister is being held there against her will. Her sister’s dress is above her knees, Robbie has a hold of her hair and her forearm, and she is being pressed into the corner. Briony calls her sister’s name, who gets out of the compromising position and leaves the study without saying anything to Briony. Briony is left in there alone with Robbie who does not acknowledge her and goes about straightening out his clothes.
Analysis
The theme of innocence is present. After reading the note, Briony’s transition into adulthood solidifies but she still assumes that Robbie is threatening Cecilia. However, Briony is still a child, as much as she wishes to grow up, as a mature adult would have never opened a note not addressed to them and maybe not jumped to such rash conclusions. Also, Briony, when thinking about the “c” word, comes up with rhyming words instead of saying it, which shows her lack of maturity. Lola also is still a child and jumps to the same conclusions as Briony, saying that they should call the police immediately and this is something that connects them, when talking in Briony’s room.
Another theme present in this chapter is that of misperception, as Briony and Lola make assumptions about Robbie based off of the letter. The scene between Lola and Briony is very important, because the two girls are turning two each other when they have no one else to confide in, even though they hate each other. Lola comes to Briony to talk about her how her brothers treat her; however, there is more behind all of this as we later find out. The whole story about Pierrot and Jackson is not really true, and maybe Lola was trying to let Briony know, however she is too involved in the drama between Robbie and Cecilia. Responding to this, Lola calls Robbie a maniac and it seems like a horrible word for her to say. Briony reflects upon her times with Robbie and calls this “his condition”, as if something was medically wrong with him.
Also, during the library scene, misconception is present again, shown by the way Briony interprets the situation. When walking in on Robbie and Cecilia, Briony automatically assumes that Cecilia is being attacked. “His left hand was behind her neck gripping her hair, and with his right he held her forearm which was raised in protest, or self-defense”. Here, Briony sees everything in a bad light, because she is only willing to believe that Cecilia is innocent in this whole drama.
- Great summary and analysis. I especially like how clear you are in tying the action of the chapter to the important themes that emerge from it.
Briony runs away from her sister and up to her room to get ready for dinner. While there, she tries to write. We find out that Briony opened the letter and discovered the rated R content. The “c” word was foreign to her, but she correctly assumes its meaning. As she sits and wonders what to do next, Lola enters her room.
Lola begins crying because her brothers are torturing her, saying that it was Lola's fault for being stuck in the Tallis house, and not their parents. She shows Briony scratches on her arm and chafing on her wrists, which she claims comes from her brothers attacking her. Briony, although surprised that two little boys could be so violent, consoles Lola (however, Lola’s pain also gives Briony a little satisfaction) and they have a bonding moment, moving towards friends instead of enemies. Lola confided in Briony partly to get her mind off her parents and brothers and partly for the need to tell someone. Briony shares the contents of the letter with Lola. Lola identifies Robbie as a “maniac” and suggests they go directly to the police.
Lola heads down to dinner after being summoned by Emily; Briony stays to fix her hair and face. Eventually, she makes it downstairs but instead of going directly to the dining room, she goes into the library after hearing a scraping noise and a thump come from within.
Briony enters the study and discovers Robbie and Cecilia pinned up in the corner. She thinks that Robbie is attacking Cecilia and that her sister is being held there against her will. Her sister’s dress is above her knees, Robbie has a hold of her hair and her forearm, and she is being pressed into the corner. Briony calls her sister’s name, who gets out of the compromising position and leaves the study without saying anything to Briony. Briony is left in there alone with Robbie who does not acknowledge her and goes about straightening out his clothes.
Analysis
The theme of innocence is present. After reading the note, Briony’s transition into adulthood solidifies but she still assumes that Robbie is threatening Cecilia. However, Briony is still a child, as much as she wishes to grow up, as a mature adult would have never opened a note not addressed to them and maybe not jumped to such rash conclusions. Also, Briony, when thinking about the “c” word, comes up with rhyming words instead of saying it, which shows her lack of maturity. Lola also is still a child and jumps to the same conclusions as Briony, saying that they should call the police immediately and this is something that connects them, when talking in Briony’s room.
Another theme present in this chapter is that of misperception, as Briony and Lola make assumptions about Robbie based off of the letter. The scene between Lola and Briony is very important, because the two girls are turning two each other when they have no one else to confide in, even though they hate each other. Lola comes to Briony to talk about her how her brothers treat her; however, there is more behind all of this as we later find out. The whole story about Pierrot and Jackson is not really true, and maybe Lola was trying to let Briony know, however she is too involved in the drama between Robbie and Cecilia. Responding to this, Lola calls Robbie a maniac and it seems like a horrible word for her to say. Briony reflects upon her times with Robbie and calls this “his condition”, as if something was medically wrong with him.
Also, during the library scene, misconception is present again, shown by the way Briony interprets the situation. When walking in on Robbie and Cecilia, Briony automatically assumes that Cecilia is being attacked. “His left hand was behind her neck gripping her hair, and with his right he held her forearm which was raised in protest, or self-defense”. Here, Briony sees everything in a bad light, because she is only willing to believe that Cecilia is innocent in this whole drama.
- Great summary and analysis. I especially like how clear you are in tying the action of the chapter to the important themes that emerge from it.