Chapter 23
Summary:
Though Briony is very busy with nursing duties-- cleaning bedpans, assuring the health of the patients, and taking freshman year medical classes-- she notices that the war is progressing and not in favor of the English. They are retreating, which makes Briony realize that the long hours, constant shifts at the sluice room, and increased supplies are only training for when the majority of troops come home. As she is working, she thinks about a letter her dad wrote her saying that Lola Quincy is marrying Paul Marshall. When she hears this news, she isn’t surprised. She thinks about how her deeds were unforgivable and whether her father also knew the truth.
Also, she tries to call her father, but fails since the telephone keeps dropping. By the time she runs out of change, she is late for work and runs back to the hospital. Briony is liberated because she is doing something not done by nurses, especially ones under the eye of the evil Sister Drummond.
Analysis:
This six page chapter is important to the book because of the detail of Lola and Paul’s wedding (you may not know why yet, but you will) and her realization that the war is ending-- which may mean Robbie will be coming back and unite with Cecila (oh how she wishes this so)
Also note, the clock tower in London, Big Ben, was mentioned throughout the chapter, which can refer to the fact that time is moving too quickly. Briony is eighteen now, her cousin is getting married to Paul in a week, the British are retreating and evacuating France, she never has any free time (it’s always work and school)... she has dementia and is slowly losing her mind...
- The thing about time moving too quickly is awesome!
- Again, summary is great.
- Analysis again: You could pursue more thoroughly the major points of this chapter. Again, a good idea would be to look closely at the themes, motifs, and symbols, and describe the ways in which we see them operating in this chapter.
- Also, while I appreciate your humor, it should, for the sake of IB, be more formal.
Though Briony is very busy with nursing duties-- cleaning bedpans, assuring the health of the patients, and taking freshman year medical classes-- she notices that the war is progressing and not in favor of the English. They are retreating, which makes Briony realize that the long hours, constant shifts at the sluice room, and increased supplies are only training for when the majority of troops come home. As she is working, she thinks about a letter her dad wrote her saying that Lola Quincy is marrying Paul Marshall. When she hears this news, she isn’t surprised. She thinks about how her deeds were unforgivable and whether her father also knew the truth.
Also, she tries to call her father, but fails since the telephone keeps dropping. By the time she runs out of change, she is late for work and runs back to the hospital. Briony is liberated because she is doing something not done by nurses, especially ones under the eye of the evil Sister Drummond.
Analysis:
This six page chapter is important to the book because of the detail of Lola and Paul’s wedding (you may not know why yet, but you will) and her realization that the war is ending-- which may mean Robbie will be coming back and unite with Cecila (oh how she wishes this so)
Also note, the clock tower in London, Big Ben, was mentioned throughout the chapter, which can refer to the fact that time is moving too quickly. Briony is eighteen now, her cousin is getting married to Paul in a week, the British are retreating and evacuating France, she never has any free time (it’s always work and school)... she has dementia and is slowly losing her mind...
- The thing about time moving too quickly is awesome!
- Again, summary is great.
- Analysis again: You could pursue more thoroughly the major points of this chapter. Again, a good idea would be to look closely at the themes, motifs, and symbols, and describe the ways in which we see them operating in this chapter.
- Also, while I appreciate your humor, it should, for the sake of IB, be more formal.