4.4.2
Pages 315-327: Key Themes
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Key Themes in Pages 315-327: Briony's Feelings
At the beginning of this section, Briony feels a “horrible exhilaration” (p316) at the prospect of a German invasion which lent a greater “clarity” to “everything she saw or touched”.
Briony's security in work
- Despite this, Briony is now much more secure in her work where there is “no drama now, only routine” (p317).
Patients' self-disgust
- Some of the wounded men in the hospital are “disgusted with themselves”.
- Although Briony does not discuss this in any detail, she does mention that some of the men are ashamed by their retreat, particularly those who had done so without firing a shot.
Briony's "cowardice"
- Briony is still haunted by her “cowardice” and lack of “backbone” (p320). There is a sense of shame that Briony tries to hide her guilt even in her writing, seen in her self-questioning (“Did she really think she could hide…?”) and the reference to “the evasions of her little novel” as if she cannot bear to confront the truth.
Key Themes in Pages 315-327: Lola & Marshall’s Wedding
At the wedding, Briony again feels guilt as the “memories” of the fateful night come to mind.
Sensory imagery: "rash"
- The sensory imagery used to describe these feelings as “like a rash” conveys how uncomfortable she is, as if the guilt is an illness.
Characterisation: Marshall & Lola
- The first sign of Marshall and Lola’s presence is the “polished black Rolls-Royce”, a symbol of wealth and status, outside the church.
- Marshall and Lola hold a “private ceremony” in a church which was “almost empty” with “no society journalists” present (p323). They clearly do not want publicity for their marriage, a sign that they may have something to hide.
- The mention of “sin” and “fornication” during the wedding ceremony creates irony.
"Mausoleum" metaphor
- The metaphor of a “mausoleum” is used to describe their marriage, the association with death creating an inauspicious start to their married life.
- The imagery of their secret shame being “bricked up” creates a sense of injustice and helplessness, with Robbie condemned to pay for a crime that he did not commit.
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Jump to other topics
1Introduction to Atonement
1.1Introduction & Background to Atonement
1.2Focus of Your Exam: Crime Texts
2Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part One
2.6Chapter 6
2.10Chapter 10
2.11Chapter 11
2.12Chapter 12
2.13Chapter 13
2.14Chapter 14
3Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Two
3.1Pages 191-201: To the Farmhouse
3.2Pages 202-213: The Night in the Barn
3.3Pages 214-226: The Attack
3.4Pages 226-234: Robbie's Reflections
3.5Pages 234-246: To the Bridge over the Canal
3.6Pages 246-254: Arrival at Dunkirk
3.7Pages 254-265: To the Cellar
4Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Three
4.1Pages 269-277: London, 1940
4.2Pages 277-286: Briony as Writer
4.3Pages 287-315: Victims of War
4.4Pages 315-327: Lola & Paul Marshall’s Wedding
4.5Pages 328-349: The Visit
5Chapter Summaries & Analysis: Part Four
5.1Epilogue: London, 1999 - Pages 353-371
6Key Character Profiles
6.1Briony Tallis
6.2Robbie Turner
6.3Cecilia Tallis
6.5Paul Marshall
6.6Emily Tallis
7Key Themes
7.1Introduction to Crime Texts
7.2Crimes in Atonement
7.3Criminals in Atonement
7.4Victims in Atonement
7.5Detection in Atonement
7.6Settings in Atonement
7.7Guilt & Punishment in Atonement
8Writing Techniques
9Context
9.1Historical Context
9.2Social Context
9.3Literary Context
10Critical Debates
10.1Marxist Literary Criticism
Practice questions on Pages 315-327: Key Themes
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