"Atonement", the novel by Ian McEwan published in 2001, is qualified by many critics as a “wartime love story”. It is an interpretation that suits the glamorous criteria needed by the public and provided by the media nowadays. This interpretation however solely focuses on the characters of Cecilia and Robbie and forgets the important part that Briony or her writing process play in the novel and Joe Wright's film.
A complete reading of Atonement should include a study of the title and its implications in the story. We will start by analyzing the meaning of the word “atonement”. The choice of this title has a special significance for the whole novel and should lead us readers and spectators to understand its message – to know whether the spirit of the novel has been respected by the film maker is a question to which we will also answer briefly.
The tragic event that happened in Part One of the novel could never have taken place in a more opened social environment. With other codifications, more courage and less things left unsaid, the story would have been different. We will examine some of the taboos that played an important role in the shaping of Atonement's characters.
The notion of guilt is very present in the novel, thus it will be, in relation to atonement, the central focus of this paper. We will consider the main characters, i.e. Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola and Paul Marshall and try to evaluate the degree to which each one of them is guilty, feels guilty and is willing to atone for his sins.
The last part of the paper will be essentially dedicated to the film, to Joe Wright's interpretation of the concepts we named above.
Considering our paper's subject, was it a good or a bad adaptation?
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What is atonement?
- 2.1. A Judaic and Christian doctrine based on culpability
- 2.2. Guilt and atonement in psychology
- 3. Social taboos in the 1930s England
- 3.1. Women start to smoke in public
- 3.2. Family collapse
- 3.3. Sexuality
- 4. Atonement attempts
- 4.1. Briony
- 4.1.1. Briony's perception of the events on the day of the "rape"
- 4.1.2. Was the accusation a revenge?
- 4.1.3. Briony's "atonement"
- 4.2. Robbie
- 4.3. Paul and Lola
- 5. Transferring the concepts of guilt and atonement to the film
- 5.1. Treatment of Briony's character
- 5.2. Treatment of Cecilia and Robbie's characters
- 5.3. Treatment of Paul and Lola's characters
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper analyzes the concepts of guilt and atonement in Ian McEwan's novel Atonement and its film adaptation by Joe Wright. It examines how these concepts are portrayed within the narrative, exploring the characters' actions and motivations. The study investigates the social context of 1930s England and its influence on the characters' behaviors and the consequences of their actions. The analysis also compares the novel and the film, evaluating the faithfulness of the adaptation regarding the themes of guilt and atonement.
- The definition and implications of atonement in Judaic, Christian, and psychological contexts.
- The social taboos of 1930s England and their impact on the narrative.
- The exploration of guilt and atonement within the actions and motivations of the main characters (Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola, and Paul).
- A comparative analysis of the portrayal of guilt and atonement in the novel and its film adaptation.
- An evaluation of the film adaptation's success in transferring the novel's core themes and concepts.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper, establishing the premise that while Atonement is often viewed superficially as a wartime love story focusing on Cecilia and Robbie, a more comprehensive analysis must include Briony's crucial role and her writing process. The chapter highlights the significance of the novel's title and introduces the central themes of guilt and atonement. It further establishes the paper's objective: to examine these themes within the novel and compare their treatment in Joe Wright's film adaptation.
2. What is atonement?: This chapter delves into the multifaceted concept of atonement, tracing its origins in Judaic and Christian doctrines. It explores the various paths to atonement within these religious frameworks, highlighting the necessity of repentance, confession, and restitution. The chapter then transitions to a psychological perspective, contrasting traditional views of guilt with modern understandings. It emphasizes the psychological benefits of atonement as a process of reducing guilt and eliciting forgiveness, but also acknowledges the challenges involved in acknowledging responsibility and accepting punishment.
3. Social taboos in the 1930s England: This chapter examines the social context of 1930s England, focusing on prevalent taboos that significantly shaped the characters' actions and the narrative's trajectory. It delves into specific examples like changing attitudes towards women smoking in public, the fragility of family structures, and societal constraints on sexuality. This contextual understanding is crucial for comprehending the characters' choices and the tragic consequences of unspoken truths and repressed emotions.
4. Atonement attempts: This chapter analyzes the attempts at atonement made by the novel's key characters: Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola, and Paul Marshall. It delves into their individual actions and motivations, evaluating the degree to which each character feels guilt, is willing to atone, and ultimately succeeds in achieving reconciliation. This analysis uses the psychological framework introduced earlier, examining the challenges associated with atonement and the barriers that prevent it.
5. Transferring the concepts of guilt and atonement to the film: This chapter focuses on Joe Wright's film adaptation of Atonement, comparing and contrasting its portrayal of guilt and atonement with the novel. It examines how the film handles each character's arc, paying close attention to the degree to which the adaptation preserves and transforms the thematic elements from the original work. The chapter concludes by evaluating the film's success or failure in conveying the novel's central message regarding guilt and the complex process of atonement.
Keywords
Atonement, guilt, Ian McEwan, Joe Wright, film adaptation, 1930s England, social taboos, psychological perspectives, religious doctrines, character analysis, Briony Tallis, Robbie Turner, Cecilia Tallis, Paul Marshall, Lola.
Frequently Asked Questions: Atonement - A Comparative Analysis of Novel and Film
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the concepts of guilt and atonement in Ian McEwan's novel "Atonement" and its film adaptation by Joe Wright. It examines how these concepts are portrayed through character actions and motivations, considering the social context of 1930s England and comparing the novel and film's treatment of these themes.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores the definition and implications of atonement in Judaic, Christian, and psychological contexts; the social taboos of 1930s England and their impact on the narrative; the exploration of guilt and atonement in the actions and motivations of the main characters (Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola, and Paul); and a comparative analysis of the portrayal of guilt and atonement in the novel and film adaptation, evaluating the film's success in conveying the novel's core themes.
What aspects of "Atonement" are covered in the analysis?
The analysis covers the novel's introduction, the multifaceted concept of atonement (its religious and psychological aspects), the social taboos of 1930s England, the atonement attempts of the main characters (Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola, and Paul), and a detailed comparison of the novel and film adaptation's portrayal of guilt and atonement.
How does the paper define atonement?
The paper explores atonement from Judaic and Christian doctrinal perspectives, highlighting repentance, confession, and restitution. It then incorporates a psychological perspective, contrasting traditional views of guilt with modern understandings, emphasizing the psychological benefits of atonement but also acknowledging the challenges in accepting responsibility and punishment.
What is the significance of the social context of 1930s England?
The paper argues that understanding the social taboos of 1930s England (such as changing attitudes toward women smoking, fragile family structures, and constraints on sexuality) is crucial for comprehending the characters' choices and the tragic consequences of unspoken truths and repressed emotions within the narrative.
How does the paper analyze the characters' attempts at atonement?
The paper analyzes the atonement attempts of Briony, Robbie, Cecilia, Lola, and Paul, delving into their individual actions and motivations. It evaluates their guilt, willingness to atone, and success in achieving reconciliation, using a psychological framework to examine the challenges and barriers to atonement.
How does the paper compare the novel and the film adaptation?
The paper compares and contrasts the novel and Joe Wright's film adaptation, focusing on their portrayal of guilt and atonement. It examines how the film handles each character's arc and evaluates the adaptation's success in preserving and transforming the thematic elements from the novel, assessing whether the film successfully conveys the novel's central message.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include: Atonement, guilt, Ian McEwan, Joe Wright, film adaptation, 1930s England, social taboos, psychological perspectives, religious doctrines, character analysis, Briony Tallis, Robbie Turner, Cecilia Tallis, Paul Marshall, and Lola.
What is the overall objective of this academic work?
The overall objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the themes of guilt and atonement in "Atonement," comparing and contrasting their treatment in the novel and its film adaptation, offering a detailed understanding of the narrative's complexities within its historical and psychological contexts.
- Quote paper
- Carmen Odimba (Author), 2009, Guilt in Ian McEwan's "Atonement" and Joe Wright's film adaptation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/298849
