6.4.2
Lola Relationship with Marshall
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Marshall's Rape of Lola in Atonement
Marshall perhaps senses Lola’s insecurity. He is able to manipulate her easily through the gift of a chocolate bar and with compliments appealing to her desire to appear sophisticated (“You’ve jolly good taste in clothes”).
Lola's response to Robbie
- Lola’s childishness is also seen in the excitement she shares with Briony as they read Robbie’s letter.
- It is she who first uses the term “maniac” to describe Robbie (p119) and it is perhaps significant that this follows Marshall’s possible assault on her earlier which has left her with scratches and bruises, evidence suggesting the use of a restraining force upon her.
Briony's suspicion about consent
- What actually happened between Lola and Paul Marshall is never fully revealed.
- In Part Four, Briony speculates that Lola may have been a willing partner to Marshall and that, rather than it being an assault or rape, it was a consensual act.
- Briony imagines Lola as looking for some form of escape from the “restraints of childhood”. But the act, and the motivations behind it, remain ambiguous.
Evidence for Lola's consent?
- Some readers may think the following things are evidence of Lola's shared responsibility:
- Lola blaming the twins for her injuries;
- Lola allowing Briony to let her imagination run away with itself, choosing not to contradict her when Briony asserts that it was Robbie that she had seen.
Is Lola protecting Marshall?
- Lola's motivation for allowing Briony to accuse Robbie of the sexual assault on her may be to protect Marshall from a criminal justice system which would punish him for having sex with a 15-year-old minor.
- But this is one possible interpretation and we are never entirely clear.
Lola's Marriage to Marshall in Atonement
We can only speculate on the true nature of Lola and Marshall’s marriage.
Ambiguity over marriage & cermony
- We have no way of knowing how much love existed between them or whether the marriage was a way of protecting Marshall from accusation.
- The choice of a private ceremony, away from eyes of the press, suggests that they want as little publicity as possible shone upon their past.
"Mausoleum of truth"
- Briony describes their marriage as a “mausoleum of truth” (p325) in which the secrets of the past are bricked up forever.
- The metaphor suggests that the marriage is a form of living death.
- That Lola is likely to outlive Briony also contributes to the truth remaining hidden: Lola would be likely to take legal action against her if there were any suggestion of her or Marshall’s guilt.
Lola & Marshall's charity
- Lola and Marshall’s charitable foundation may be seen as their own form of atonement for the sins of their past.
"Cruella de Vil" comparison
- In her final description of Lola, Briony likens her to “Cruella de Vil” (p358), a Disney cartoon villain.
- This may suggests that is aware that she is exaggerating her villainy.
- It is perhaps another example of the novel inviting us to question the judgements we have made.
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 Lola Relationship with Marshall
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- 2What kind of wedding did Lola and Paul Marshall have?Multiple choice
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