Blog Post #3 - Atonement by Ian McEwan

Although the book was not as well recognized as some other international bestsellers, Atonement has had a movie based upon it, and has won a Golden Globe Award. It was given a 8.3/10 stars by Rotten Tomatoes, showing that despite the twisted plot, people have enjoyed it. The movie itself has been compared to others like Pride and Prejudice, Becoming Jane, and Head in the clouds.  (SPOILER!though many of you may not like this book at all ...otherwise read on) At the end of the book, we see that Briony has grown old and has grandchildren frolicking around. We hear about how Robbie was innocent and how Lola was actually raped by Paul Marshall, a friend of Briony's older brother, Leon. Paul Marshall was of the same class, and due to Briony's hatred for the fact that Robbie and rejected her, she blames him, and Marshall is off the hook. Lola actually ended up marrying Marshall, but it was not said as to if it were forced or if it was her own choice. Briony, during her adulthood, managed to find her sister and Robbie, who were a part of the second world war. By becoming a nurse like her older sister Cecilia, she managed to find her and apologize for her actions. Eventually she took back her accusations, and Robbie remained purely innocent of committing any crime. The ending of this story showed how innocent people can be blamed for crimes that they have not committed, and must take the blame of things that people who are higher up in the classist pyramid have done. While the upper class may have seen this as a benefit, the middle and lower classes were at a disadvantage during this time.