Chapter 14
Analysis:
Part one of Atonement, by Ian McEwan, is mainly centralized around a single event; Lola's rape. It also revolves around Briony's misinterpretation of the situation as well as her false accusations. Briony blames Robbie, the cleaning ladies son, for the rape even though she isn't completely certain he is the one to blame. Earlier that night in the library, Briony caught Cecilia, her older sister, and Robbie engaging in sexual activities. From that point forward, she concluded that he was a terrible individual who deserved to be called a "maniac".
Briony dislikes Lola and several other members of her family, such as the twins. Her cousins came to live at her house because of a war occurring in their country as well as problems their parents are currently dealing with. Briony hates sharing the spotlight. She desires everyone's attention to be on her. She refuses to allow Lola to act the main part in her play, since she isn't as good as Briony. In a way, she believes her thoughts are superior to one's other individuals have. In part one, we very clearly see that she goes to extremes for attention; by writing the play for instance, or collecting items no one cares about and calling them her secrets. When she had the opportunity to be the center of attention that night, she took it. Not acknowledging the fact that innocent individuals will get hurt. Briony has a certain need to be seen as a mature adult. She believes that she has altered her behavior from earlier years and is now a young woman with new values and morals. She is, however, a child who is in no way grown up.
This chapter is written from Briony's perspective. She believes that Robbie is a rapist, solely because of the letter he wrote to Cecilia. She doesn't realize that rape and being in love and engaging in those activities are two separate issues. Briony seems to have convinced Lola of the fact that Robbie is the rapist. She also believes that him finding he twins is an act to seek forgiveness from the one's he's hurt. Cecilia is beyond upset and discussed with the actions of her sister as well as the actions of the rest of her family. She feels as though the letter as well as her relationship with Robbie are private things that others should not have access to. Robbie is mainly charged with rape based on his social class, where as Paul Marshall (the actual rapist) isn't even considered since he's wealthy and sophisticated.Emily Tallis , who isn't fond of Robbie, also accuses him and even blames Cecilia for not giving her access to the letter on time. This chapter shows that Robbie is a sweet, caring person who is blamed for an action he isn't even aware of. Briony misinterprets Robbie and Cecilia's talk before the arrest as well by imagining that Cecilia is forgiving him for committing the crime.Essentially, Briony isn't actually aware of anything that's going on in the adult world and therefore makes up what she thinks the case is.
Chapter Summary:
The chapter containing Lola's rape as well as the twins' escape immediately precedes this chapter. Briony, with the support of her brother Leon and her mother Emily, told the police officer that Robbie was the one responsible for the rape of Lola. "It was him. I saw him." - she stated. At this point of the novel, the twins were still missing. Cecilia stayed away from everyone while smoking nervously outside. Briony, in search of clear evidence, ran to Cecilia's room and after having gone through several of her drawers, retrieved the letter from Robbie. She initially thought of giving it to her brother Leon; however, she changed her mind and handed it to the police officer. The letter had been passed around until it reached Emily Tallis. "I'll read it." - she commanded. She held the letter while reading it several times over. She concluded that Lola's rape could have been prevented if Cecilia had come to her with the letter. Cecilia, once she realized what was going on, stormed out of the room screaming : "How dare you! How dare you all!" During her interview, when asked why she opened the letter, Briony responded: "I don't know. I was being horribly nosy. I hated myself." Cecilia, in an attempt to save Robbie, cast suspicion on Danny Hardman. Family and police officers gathered outside the entrance to wait for Robbie. What appeared at first to be an eight foot giant, turned out to be Robbie carrying one of the twins on his shoulders and the other one alongside him. Robbie had been immediately hand cuffed and right before entering the police car, he spoke with Cecilia. As the Humber began driving away, Cecilia started to cry. Robbie's mom (Grace Turner) came down the middle of the drive way with an umbrella, which she used to whack the roof of the police car. "Liars!" - she shouted continuously. The police officer carried her to the edge of the drive way, got in the car and drove off with Robbie.
- The summary, especially toward the end, is nicely narrative in its form. The summary is good, too, especially in its discussion of the chapter providing both the clearest and the most damning view of Briony's need for attention and control. You might linger a bit on how she is able to establish that control -- in a big reversal of her prior encounters with Lola -- and in the events that follow.
Part one of Atonement, by Ian McEwan, is mainly centralized around a single event; Lola's rape. It also revolves around Briony's misinterpretation of the situation as well as her false accusations. Briony blames Robbie, the cleaning ladies son, for the rape even though she isn't completely certain he is the one to blame. Earlier that night in the library, Briony caught Cecilia, her older sister, and Robbie engaging in sexual activities. From that point forward, she concluded that he was a terrible individual who deserved to be called a "maniac".
Briony dislikes Lola and several other members of her family, such as the twins. Her cousins came to live at her house because of a war occurring in their country as well as problems their parents are currently dealing with. Briony hates sharing the spotlight. She desires everyone's attention to be on her. She refuses to allow Lola to act the main part in her play, since she isn't as good as Briony. In a way, she believes her thoughts are superior to one's other individuals have. In part one, we very clearly see that she goes to extremes for attention; by writing the play for instance, or collecting items no one cares about and calling them her secrets. When she had the opportunity to be the center of attention that night, she took it. Not acknowledging the fact that innocent individuals will get hurt. Briony has a certain need to be seen as a mature adult. She believes that she has altered her behavior from earlier years and is now a young woman with new values and morals. She is, however, a child who is in no way grown up.
This chapter is written from Briony's perspective. She believes that Robbie is a rapist, solely because of the letter he wrote to Cecilia. She doesn't realize that rape and being in love and engaging in those activities are two separate issues. Briony seems to have convinced Lola of the fact that Robbie is the rapist. She also believes that him finding he twins is an act to seek forgiveness from the one's he's hurt. Cecilia is beyond upset and discussed with the actions of her sister as well as the actions of the rest of her family. She feels as though the letter as well as her relationship with Robbie are private things that others should not have access to. Robbie is mainly charged with rape based on his social class, where as Paul Marshall (the actual rapist) isn't even considered since he's wealthy and sophisticated.Emily Tallis , who isn't fond of Robbie, also accuses him and even blames Cecilia for not giving her access to the letter on time. This chapter shows that Robbie is a sweet, caring person who is blamed for an action he isn't even aware of. Briony misinterprets Robbie and Cecilia's talk before the arrest as well by imagining that Cecilia is forgiving him for committing the crime.Essentially, Briony isn't actually aware of anything that's going on in the adult world and therefore makes up what she thinks the case is.
Chapter Summary:
The chapter containing Lola's rape as well as the twins' escape immediately precedes this chapter. Briony, with the support of her brother Leon and her mother Emily, told the police officer that Robbie was the one responsible for the rape of Lola. "It was him. I saw him." - she stated. At this point of the novel, the twins were still missing. Cecilia stayed away from everyone while smoking nervously outside. Briony, in search of clear evidence, ran to Cecilia's room and after having gone through several of her drawers, retrieved the letter from Robbie. She initially thought of giving it to her brother Leon; however, she changed her mind and handed it to the police officer. The letter had been passed around until it reached Emily Tallis. "I'll read it." - she commanded. She held the letter while reading it several times over. She concluded that Lola's rape could have been prevented if Cecilia had come to her with the letter. Cecilia, once she realized what was going on, stormed out of the room screaming : "How dare you! How dare you all!" During her interview, when asked why she opened the letter, Briony responded: "I don't know. I was being horribly nosy. I hated myself." Cecilia, in an attempt to save Robbie, cast suspicion on Danny Hardman. Family and police officers gathered outside the entrance to wait for Robbie. What appeared at first to be an eight foot giant, turned out to be Robbie carrying one of the twins on his shoulders and the other one alongside him. Robbie had been immediately hand cuffed and right before entering the police car, he spoke with Cecilia. As the Humber began driving away, Cecilia started to cry. Robbie's mom (Grace Turner) came down the middle of the drive way with an umbrella, which she used to whack the roof of the police car. "Liars!" - she shouted continuously. The police officer carried her to the edge of the drive way, got in the car and drove off with Robbie.
- The summary, especially toward the end, is nicely narrative in its form. The summary is good, too, especially in its discussion of the chapter providing both the clearest and the most damning view of Briony's need for attention and control. You might linger a bit on how she is able to establish that control -- in a big reversal of her prior encounters with Lola -- and in the events that follow.