6.2.3
Robbie in Part Two & Three
Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
Robbie Turner in Part Two & Three of Atonement
The Robbie of Part Two is a young man of great courage, determination and compassion.
Robbie's humanity in war
- Corporals Nettle and Mace both follow and look up to Robbie. Robbie’s ability to map-read and speak French provides invaluable skills in their retreat north.
- We also see Robbie's acts of simple humanity, providing aid to the wounded after the Stuka attack and helping the RAF man escape the angry mob about to lynch him.
Robbie's perspective on war
- We see the horrors of war through Robbie’s perspective and witness the emotional toll of scenes like the boy’s leg in the tree and the woman and son who are “vaporised” have on him.
- Robbie is able to look outwards, away from his own private pain, to reflect on a whole world which is suffering. He measures the injustices he has faced against the global tragedy playing out in front of him, in which a whole civilisation is dying.
Robbie as a love story hero
- Robbie is also depicted as a hero in a love story.
- Both he and Cecilia imagine themselves as romantic figures from stories in classical literature. Briony later recreates them as such, bringing the lovers back from the dead to be together again after the retreat from Dunkirk.
- Cecilia’s love is shown to be the one thing which sustains Robbie, providing him with the will to survive. Briony rewrites history in order to make it so.
Tenderness: Robbie & Cecilia
- We see moments of touching tenderness between Robbie and Cecilia in Part Three and Briony the author leaves us with the simple image of the two lovers “hand in hand” as they walk Briony to the tube station.
Robbie's imperfections & anger
- Robbie is not depicted as perfect. He is prone to flashes of anger, seen in him wanting to punch the driver who sounded his horn at him, his reaction on seeing Briony in Part Three and his outburst about wanting to kill Paul Marshall when Briony reveals the truth.
- However, Cecilia is able to soothe Robbie and call him “back”, again demonstrating the love and tenderness shared by the pair.
Robbie's death
- Robbie’s death, when it is confirmed to us, leaves readers with a sense of tragic waste and perhaps makes some sympathise with Briony’s decision to bring him back to life in Part Three.
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 Robbie in Part Two & Three
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1How is Robbie characterised in Part Two?True / false
- 2
- 3What do Robbie and Cecilia imagine themselves as? Multiple choice
- 4How does Cecilia dissipate Robbie's anger? Multiple choice
Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium
Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions
Mini-mock exams based on your study history
Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books