6.5.3
Paul Marshall's Power
Paul Marshall's Power in Atonement
Paul Marshall's Power in Atonement
McEwan also depicts Marshall as a war profiteer, exploiting the suffering of others for his own private gain. Marshall is genuinely excited by the prospect of another catastrophic war in Europe.
Marshall's desire for war
Marshall's desire for war
- Marshall is genuinely excited because he sees a war as the perfect marketing opportunity for his chocolate Amo bars to “become part of the standard-issue ration pack” used by the British Armed Forces (p50).
- Marshall’s strategy is clearly successful, with Amo bars mentioned in the Dunkirk section of the novel. But the fact that Marshall becomes richer as a result of the atrocities of war (which will eventually claim the life of Robbie) will be deeply offensive to most readers.
Does Marshall atone for his sins?
Does Marshall atone for his sins?
- Marshall evades punishment for his crimes and allows the innocent to suffer.
- The charitable work that the Marshall Foundation does may be a form of atonement for the sins of his past. But this is little consolation to readers who have followed Robbie’s struggle to survive the war. Briony wonders if Marshall has “spent a lifetime making amends” (p357). This may suggest that his marriage to Lola, arising from convenience rather than love, may have been a form of punishment. McEwan leaves this unresolved.
Marshall's power in Part Four
Marshall's power in Part Four
- We learn in Part Four that Marshall has been made a Lord and is therefore the picture of respectability.
- His wealth and power also make it impossible for Briony to publish her novel as it is obvious Marshall would sue for libel.
- McEwan may be asking us to reflect on contemporary British society, and how the wealthy and powerful can evade justice or punishment for the crimes they have committed.
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
Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring
Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home
Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs
30+ school subjects covered