Chapter 13
Summary
Briony realizes what she had done and felt some protection not only for herself, but also for her sister from Robbie, that she now calls "maniac". Briony was determined to look for the twins no matter what obstacles she faces.
She also told herself to beware because there is a "maniac" running along in the dark also. At this point, she told herself that she should not be afraid of Robbie, she wont allow herself to be. Robbie eventually ventured out on her own to look for the twins, she did not want to stay with her mother, she figured that she this was the time that she does not consider herself as a child anymore. As she makes her way through the Temple in the lake, briony thinks she sees something, She is unsure of what it is, her first guess would be that it was just a bush or a plant.She ignored this, and then walked directly into the temple and noticed that ,what she thought was a bush, seemed to break apart and as she kept on taking a frew more steps closer to it, she found out it was human figuires. A faint, helpless voice seemed to call out for Briony. It was Lola, and she was raped. Lola was in fear and disgust. Briony comforted Lola and reassured her that she "saw him" and was positive that it was "him". The "him" that Briony was referring to was "Robbie", although she was competely unaware of who "him" might actually be. Through this, Lola too felt some disgust for Robbie. Lola and Briony spent some time supporthing their assumption that Robbiewas indeed the rapist. Even though Lola was raped from behind and her eyes were covered, they were fairly certain that it was Robbie who was the rapist because of the action of sexual intercourse between Cecilia and Robbie, and also the note that Robbie note. All of these events made them think that Robbie was indeed the rapist. Through this event, Briony mentions how this must be the closest she has ever been to Lola, despite all of their differences. After their talk, Briony asked Lola if she was okay to walk back up. Lola said she was just too weak and, Leon, who came at the right time, came to the rescue and took Lola into his arms and carried her as if she was a child. As they were walking back, Briony could not help but share the story of what she had just witnessed.
Analysis
This chapter contains the climax of the novel with the rape of Lola. Briony begins to search and is cautious when she does so because she believes that the “maniac” (Robbie) could possibly be out there to get her. She first checks the pool for the twins and then decides to go to the temple. On her way to the temple, she reaches a point where the light has finally gone completely out and she explains how this “absence of light”heightens her other senses such as smell and hearing. She is hesitant on going further because she feels vulnerable, but decides to go further when she is confronted with a bush that begins to move. She soon realizes when Lola calls for her, exactly what was going on and watches the rapist as he walks away. Briony naturally goes to Lola’s side to comfort her and she strongly believes that the rapist is Robbie. She asks Lola and she says that she cannot be completely sure if it was Robbie who did it, and Briony responds to this by saying “Well I can. And I will.” This is repeated on pages 157, 158, and 160. The fact that even though Briony did not get a clear view of the rapist’s face, she has completely convinced to herself that it was in fact Robbie. Her thoughts of him being a “maniac” and misinterpretation of his flirting with Cecilia made it that much easier for her to point the finger at Robbie. Briony cannot help but remember all of the “wrongdoings” Robbie has done just in this day and even mentions all of the good things her family has done for him (i.e. giving him a home to live in, paying for his education, etc.) This is just an attempt to make him look even more worse than he already is because they have done so much good for him. The chapter ends with Leon to come to rescue to help Lola up and take her to the house.
- Again, you might want to connect this more fully to the themes/motifs/symbols, which are especially important here, given that Briony is constructing this narrative after the fact as a means, she says, to atone for what she's done.
Briony realizes what she had done and felt some protection not only for herself, but also for her sister from Robbie, that she now calls "maniac". Briony was determined to look for the twins no matter what obstacles she faces.
She also told herself to beware because there is a "maniac" running along in the dark also. At this point, she told herself that she should not be afraid of Robbie, she wont allow herself to be. Robbie eventually ventured out on her own to look for the twins, she did not want to stay with her mother, she figured that she this was the time that she does not consider herself as a child anymore. As she makes her way through the Temple in the lake, briony thinks she sees something, She is unsure of what it is, her first guess would be that it was just a bush or a plant.She ignored this, and then walked directly into the temple and noticed that ,what she thought was a bush, seemed to break apart and as she kept on taking a frew more steps closer to it, she found out it was human figuires. A faint, helpless voice seemed to call out for Briony. It was Lola, and she was raped. Lola was in fear and disgust. Briony comforted Lola and reassured her that she "saw him" and was positive that it was "him". The "him" that Briony was referring to was "Robbie", although she was competely unaware of who "him" might actually be. Through this, Lola too felt some disgust for Robbie. Lola and Briony spent some time supporthing their assumption that Robbiewas indeed the rapist. Even though Lola was raped from behind and her eyes were covered, they were fairly certain that it was Robbie who was the rapist because of the action of sexual intercourse between Cecilia and Robbie, and also the note that Robbie note. All of these events made them think that Robbie was indeed the rapist. Through this event, Briony mentions how this must be the closest she has ever been to Lola, despite all of their differences. After their talk, Briony asked Lola if she was okay to walk back up. Lola said she was just too weak and, Leon, who came at the right time, came to the rescue and took Lola into his arms and carried her as if she was a child. As they were walking back, Briony could not help but share the story of what she had just witnessed.
Analysis
This chapter contains the climax of the novel with the rape of Lola. Briony begins to search and is cautious when she does so because she believes that the “maniac” (Robbie) could possibly be out there to get her. She first checks the pool for the twins and then decides to go to the temple. On her way to the temple, she reaches a point where the light has finally gone completely out and she explains how this “absence of light”heightens her other senses such as smell and hearing. She is hesitant on going further because she feels vulnerable, but decides to go further when she is confronted with a bush that begins to move. She soon realizes when Lola calls for her, exactly what was going on and watches the rapist as he walks away. Briony naturally goes to Lola’s side to comfort her and she strongly believes that the rapist is Robbie. She asks Lola and she says that she cannot be completely sure if it was Robbie who did it, and Briony responds to this by saying “Well I can. And I will.” This is repeated on pages 157, 158, and 160. The fact that even though Briony did not get a clear view of the rapist’s face, she has completely convinced to herself that it was in fact Robbie. Her thoughts of him being a “maniac” and misinterpretation of his flirting with Cecilia made it that much easier for her to point the finger at Robbie. Briony cannot help but remember all of the “wrongdoings” Robbie has done just in this day and even mentions all of the good things her family has done for him (i.e. giving him a home to live in, paying for his education, etc.) This is just an attempt to make him look even more worse than he already is because they have done so much good for him. The chapter ends with Leon to come to rescue to help Lola up and take her to the house.
- Again, you might want to connect this more fully to the themes/motifs/symbols, which are especially important here, given that Briony is constructing this narrative after the fact as a means, she says, to atone for what she's done.