Betrayal in McEwans Atonement Essay -- Literary Analysis

In McEwans A stepment ventures into the lives of the prayer shawl sisters and the complexities that naivety and selfishness rump inflict. briony Tallis perjury against Robbie Turner, in her cousin Lolas immoral rape case, disrupts the Tallis family dynamic and the budding romance between Cecelia Tallis and Robbie. Brionys maturation and realization of her wrongdoing implores her to become a nurse during WWII. In satisfaction, McEwan depicts a family in turmoil over the lies of teen Briony during World War II. The imagery and symbol portray Brionys characterization through her attempts to serve penance for her betrayal with symbolism and imagery. Brionys limited point of view effects the tone of the novel through an unreliable eyewitness account of what she witnessed and the recognition of her mistakes.Atonements symbolism of innocence shows Brionys youthful navet and her blameless intentions. The symbolism of lost innocence not provided affects Briony, but Cecilia and Robbie as well. Robbie and Cecilia venture into the world of adult sexuality together, but are interrupted by Brionys curiosity. Witness to the bacchanalia at hand, Briony skews her testimony to the police in regards to her encounter of Lola and her rapist at the temple, Events she herself witnessed foretold her cousins calamity. If only she, Briony, had been less innocent, less stupid. Now she saw, the affair was also consistent, too symmetrical to be anything other than what she said it was. She blamed herself for her infantile assumption that Robbie would limit his attentions to Cecilia. What was she thinking of? He was a maniac later on all. (158) Briony thought of the obscene note written to Cecelia as a warning to what Robbie was capable of, although the note w... ...Rpt. InContemporaryLiterary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 269. Detroit Gale,2009. belles-lettres mental imagery Center. Web. 09 Dec. 2011.Mathews, Peter. The Impression of a Deeper Darkness Ian McEwans At onement.English Studies in Canada 32.1 (2006) 147+. publications choice Center. Web.3 Jan. 2012.McEwan, Ian. Atonement. New York Anchor, 2003. Print.Finney, Brian. Brionys Stand Against Oblivion The Making of Fiction in IanMcEwans Atonement. Journal of Modern Literature 27.3 (Winter 2004) 68-82.Rpt. In Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Jeffrey W. Hunter. Vol. 269.Detroit Gale, 2009. Literature Resource Center. Web. 2 Jan. 2012.Shone, Tom. White Lies Ian McEwans Novel Chronicles the Disintegration of anEnglish Familys perfect Life. The New York Times Book Review 10 Mar. 20028+. LiteratureResource Center. Web. 5 Jan. 2012.