A Researchable Aspect of Atonement
Jefrin Palsetia Professor Hoberman Essay 2 2/19/2013 The Innocent Distortion of Reality
Ian McEwan in his novel “Atonement” gives his audience comprehensive and vivid descriptions of how his main character, Briony Tallis goes to immense heights to seek redemption for her sins and how she eventually fails. The third part of the novel tells us that it is Briony who is writing her life story with an ending which she originally pictured in her mind and not the real ending. In this life story she is attempting to achieve the forgiveness which she craves. McEwan has used various Architectural metaphors to notify the reader about the upcoming doom for which the sole reason was Briony herself.
McEwan tells us that the Tallis household was originally an Adams style house which was burned down in the late 1880s and Briony’s grandfather had rebuilt it in Gothic style. Her grandfather was a common hardware merchant who was well off because of the patents he had claimed “on padlocks, bolts, latches and hasps” (18). It was a huge success because probably the people of London had an insight that some doom (World War I) was about to come or maybe just to keep their family safe enough from any external threats. And he, like the other common men, wanted the same too. Gothic houses fit into this description quite well because the main constituent of a Gothic house is its “sturdy framework of stout timbers” (Smith 39). McEwan does not deny the strength that the Tallis house holds, but has explicitly called it “ugly” in the book. This home is the mirror of the ugliness Briony is about to bring about in her sister’s life which is described in the latter part of the book.
In this description of the house, he also tells us that this house, if sighted, would be “condemned by Pevsner or one of his team as a tragedy of wasted chances” (18). Sir Nikolaus Pevsner was a well renowned author of various art books including “Buildings of England.” He expressed his dislike towards
Ian McEwan in his novel “Atonement” gives his audience comprehensive and vivid descriptions of how his main character, Briony Tallis goes to immense heights to seek redemption for her sins and how she eventually fails. The third part of the novel tells us that it is Briony who is writing her life story with an ending which she originally pictured in her mind and not the real ending. In this life story she is attempting to achieve the forgiveness which she craves. McEwan has used various Architectural metaphors to notify the reader about the upcoming doom for which the sole reason was Briony herself.
McEwan tells us that the Tallis household was originally an Adams style house which was burned down in the late 1880s and Briony’s grandfather had rebuilt it in Gothic style. Her grandfather was a common hardware merchant who was well off because of the patents he had claimed “on padlocks, bolts, latches and hasps” (18). It was a huge success because probably the people of London had an insight that some doom (World War I) was about to come or maybe just to keep their family safe enough from any external threats. And he, like the other common men, wanted the same too. Gothic houses fit into this description quite well because the main constituent of a Gothic house is its “sturdy framework of stout timbers” (Smith 39). McEwan does not deny the strength that the Tallis house holds, but has explicitly called it “ugly” in the book. This home is the mirror of the ugliness Briony is about to bring about in her sister’s life which is described in the latter part of the book.
In this description of the house, he also tells us that this house, if sighted, would be “condemned by Pevsner or one of his team as a tragedy of wasted chances” (18). Sir Nikolaus Pevsner was a well renowned author of various art books including “Buildings of England.” He expressed his dislike towards
Cited: Fricker, Jonathan and Fricker, Donna. “The Greek Revival Passion.” Louisiana : Pick your passion website. n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. Howard, Philip. “Sir Nikolaus completes his edifice of words.” The London Times Jun 29, 1974. Web. 15 Feb. 2012 Lee, Hermione. “If your memories serve you well...” The Guardian (UK). 22 September 2001. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. McEwan, Ian. Atonement. New York: Anchor Books 2003. Print. Melani, Lilia. “The Gothic Experience.” Brooklyn college. n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2013. “Middle Ages.” The History Channel . n.d. Web. Feb 18 2013. Shepherd, Lynn. “Jane Austen and the Gothic Novel.” Austen Authors. n.d. Web. 18 Feb. 2013. Smith, Thomas Roger. Architecture : Gothic and Renaissance. London: Sampson Low, Marston and Company, Limited 1896. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.