Ian Mcewan Atonement Trauma Analysis

A has taken place. Some people would flee from this event, while others may jump right in and lighten such misfortune. But how would you deal with it? Would you run away to isolate yourself, or willingly face it and move on? Traumas in life can bring us down or lift us up, depending on how we choose to deal with it. Ian McEwan illustrates this struggle in his novel Atonement by highlighting the characters’ inner emotions and their reactions to trauma. McEwan suggests that rather than simply ignoring traumas, one should instead face them head on to evaluate past choices and rise from adversity. McEwan’s precise and hyperbolic word choice misguides the reader into believing that ignoring a traumatic situation is the best way to go to avoid recollecting

Following her personal traumatic experience early on, Briony realizes “how easy it was to get everything wrong, completely wrong” (37). Such trauma leads Briony to make sense of her choices right away, since she can distinguish between what is considered right and “completely wrong”. The use of “everything” represents her realization that all her past choices were questionable and open for contemplation. Likewise, after Robbie ponders over his first traumatic experience, he asks himself: “How could he trust such a self-serving idea derived from hope and desire?” (76). In other words, Robbie questions how he could believe that Cecilia’s intention in meeting with him was to entice him. This causes Robbie to reflect on his judgment and realize how foolish he had been. McEwan includes the word “trust” to indicate his effective questioning of choices that sparked from “hope” and desire”. These two words emphasize the epiphany that emerges after one faces trauma. In addition, Robbie believes that “his stupid letter repelled her… He regretted it, and he exulted in his mistake” (122). His traumatic experience is characterized as the “stupid letter”. In doing so, he understands that this was a questionable choice made in the past. McEwan describes that Robbie “exulted’ in his realization of his mistake, which indicates a reaction similar to a celebration or rejoicing. McEwan intentionally uses this word to subtly highlight one’s ability to own up to one’s choices, even though they may not have been the best ones. Without facing their traumas head on, these characters would not have been able to reflect on their past