Analysis

The novel Atonement by Ian McEwan tells the story of a character’s childhood mistake that will have repercussions for many years to come, and of the way the character attempts to redeem herself. 

The analysis of the novel shows that it has a fragmented structure and follows a non-linear narrative. The novel is split into three main parts and a short postscript. Various moments of foreshadowing add to the tension in the story. 

The main characters in the novel are Briony Tallis, Cecilia Tallis, and Robbie Turner. The narrative shows how an event in 1935 drastically alters all of their lives. Briony, in particular, must live with the guilt of how she impacted Cecilia and Robbie’s lives. Other characters, such as Lola and Paul Marshall are also instrumental to the plot and become entangled with the lives of the main characters.

Each part of the novel features a different physical and time setting. The first part takes place at the Tallis estate in 1935, the second part in Dunkirk in 1940, and the third part in London in 1940. The novel ends with a postscript set in London in 1999.

The novel appears to be narrated by a third-person narrator for the first three parts of the narrative. However, in the postscript it is revealed that the narrator is actually Briony herself, writing about the events that took place during her youth.

The language used in the novel is formal and highlights Briony’s literary background. The novel includes many references to other famous works of fiction. Letters also play a key role in the narrative. 

You can read a more detailed analysis of the novel in the following pages.