Book Review: Ian McEwan's Atonement

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The development of Briony Tallis is a compelling aspect of Ian McEwan's Atonement. While her character remains consistent, her analysis eventually matures.

As a thirteen-year-old, Briony acts with the best of intentions but ultimately distorts the truth to fit a false narrative. As a result, a young Cambridge student, hopeful to transition from being a cleaning boy's son into a doctor, is sent to prison and later to fight in World War 2.

Years later, Briony continues to fabricate the truth. She tells a dying soldier that she loves him so that he dies a less painful death. And in the end, she tells the reader what we want to hear even if it's far from reality.


#Atonement #IanMcEwan #WorldWar2Literature #BritishSocialClasses #Elitism #Class #Fabrication #Fanciful #Regret #Guilt #Maturity #FirmResolve #LiciaFlynn # Reality #Fantasy

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