Briony's Reparation In 'Atonement'

The novel Atonement, is one long, fictional reparation. It’s the confession of Briony Tallis, her attempt to get the truth out and to clear her guilty conscience. However, in order to need an apology, there is need for an offense, or in this case, a crime. The crime was not the violation or the attack, but the mistaken accusation of an idealist child, engrossed in the safety and wellbeing of her older sister. Briony misidentified a rapist, jailing an innocent man and letting her cousin’s aggressor free. Over the years she begins to realize her misstatement and its consequences. When Briony is faced with the decision of renouncing her accusation or letting the verdict against Robbie Turner stand, she is pulled in two different directions and

When her visiting cousin is attacked by an unknown figure, Briony is the only person present and immediately assumes that the assailant is Robbie Turner. She believes this due to her previous assumption that he is in fact, a maniac who is after her older sister, Cecilia. Briony trusts this as a result of a sensual letter she accidentally read, intended for only Cecilia, from Robbie. Her misinterpretation and confusion around the letter reveals the previously obscured childish attributes that Briony still carries, despite her seemingly mature persona. While appearing scandalous and appalling to the innocent mind of Briony, the letter showed Robbie’s true emotions for Cecilia (who later expresses the same feelings). There is some internal doubt within Briony when she makes her statement

As we established before, the novel is a long and detailed apology written by (the fictional) Briony Tallis. She explains the incident, her part in it, and the devastating consequences of her actions as a child. At the end of the novel, readers will be faced with the question of whether or not Briony ever truly earned atonement. The answer is no. Despite the recantation, as well as her acknowledgement of her wrongdoings, Briony will never be able to completely nullify her crime against Robbie Turner. It remains undeterred by Briony’s attempt of reparation. Briony’s piece shows us all how difficult apologies are and how we must stray from the easier, simpler option of letting things go, no matter the situation or who may be involved. As readers, we can clearly see the ethical and honorable decision characters are faced with, however in real life, it may be more difficult to identify what is the right thing to do when confronted with two conflicting forces. During the novel we are shown the many sides of a story and how aging can change the perspectives of those involved. Briony demonstrates to readers how important it is to have compassion for those who are a part of a conflict that relates back to you. She also brings into question the possible consequences of being blind to justice and honorable morals. Throughout the story, Briony models what the rest of us should do when faced with similar