One of the secrets being kept in this story from the readers by the author is Lola's secret that she had sexual intercourse with Paul Marshall and not Robbie, whom everyone thought it was. The secret was first presented when Briony saw Lola in the grass with a man. Lola was scared when Briony said "she saw him" for she did not want Briony to know it was Paul. Briony got Lola to admit that it was Robbie after saying "Listen to me. I couldn't mistake him. Ive known him all my life. I saw him." I believe that Briony wanted it to be Robbie because she had a crush on Robbie and Robbie was having feelings for her sister Cecilia. It felt to me to have been jealousy and it was a way back of getting revenge.
This secret is related to the secret later in this book when Briony claims to have visited her sister and Robbie to apologize. It is later when we found out that the event did not really occur. Just like this secret, the reader is not told until later that it was not Robbie and really Paul Marshall.
I think this secret is extremely significant because it was was made this book. If we knew all along that it was really Paul Marshall and not Robbie, Robbie would not have went to jail or war, and neither would he have died at war (this being the majority of the book). Cecilia and Robbie most likely would have spent their life together and the entire book what had to have been the complete opposite from what it was.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
BA #7 McEwan's Atonement
Lola holds the secret that it was really Paul Marshall who took control over her, not Robbie. "Lola. Who was it? .. It was Robbie, wasn't it?" - Briony "Because I couldn't say for sure. I mean, I thought it might be him by his voice."- Lola. (pages 155-157) Although it was only a small secret, it only benefits Lola and she harms Robbie by having him sent to jail when he did nothing wrong. Lola ends up marrying Paul Marshall a few years later after all of this has happened.
This secret is similar to Cecilia's love for Robbie. They are both relationship related. Cecilia's love for Robbie does not really harm anyone except for Cecilia leaving home when she is older. Briony also thought Robbie was hurting Cecilia in the library, but it was really where they started their relationship and continued to build off of it ever since. They ended up very happy together after being away from each other for so long all because of Lola's wrongdoing.
The secret is significant to understand the rest of the narrative because it is what helps hold the story together. Lola is disliked throughout the novel since she lied about the incident with Robbie and how he was sent to jail for no reason. She is only protecting Paul Marshall since he was so much older than her and since she apparently loved him. As a reader, I feel sorry for Cecilia that she had to deal with being apart from Robbie for so long when he was her true love.
This secret is similar to Cecilia's love for Robbie. They are both relationship related. Cecilia's love for Robbie does not really harm anyone except for Cecilia leaving home when she is older. Briony also thought Robbie was hurting Cecilia in the library, but it was really where they started their relationship and continued to build off of it ever since. They ended up very happy together after being away from each other for so long all because of Lola's wrongdoing.
The secret is significant to understand the rest of the narrative because it is what helps hold the story together. Lola is disliked throughout the novel since she lied about the incident with Robbie and how he was sent to jail for no reason. She is only protecting Paul Marshall since he was so much older than her and since she apparently loved him. As a reader, I feel sorry for Cecilia that she had to deal with being apart from Robbie for so long when he was her true love.
Monday, May 5, 2008
BA#7 McEwan's Atonement
Probably the most major secret in the entire novel is that of Briony's. Towards the end not only does she admit that she was uncertain that it was Robbie who assaulted her cousin, but that she had a stronger feeling, and soon realized, that it was quite possible that it is now Lola's husband, Paul Marshall. This scene can be found half way down page 237.
This can be compared to Briony's assumption of Robbie attacking Cecilia in the library five years earlier. Because of this situation, she assumes that Robbie had taken advantage of Lola as well, which wasn't the case. Robbie loved Cecilia and "neither Briony nore the ware had destroyed it" 330). Because of this, Briony is inspired to write a new draft of her novella.
Not only understanding these secrets, but understanding the mindset of a pre-teen girl is crucial for the novel. Children around that age have not only an imagination, but a tendency to stretch the truth, to lie, and are extremely creative. Given this and the nature of Briony's character, it is a recipe for disaster for everything that Briony had witnessed. Briony later admits that growing up is what had made her confess her secret, that it wasn't Robbie and it was really Paul who raped Lola.
This can be compared to Briony's assumption of Robbie attacking Cecilia in the library five years earlier. Because of this situation, she assumes that Robbie had taken advantage of Lola as well, which wasn't the case. Robbie loved Cecilia and "neither Briony nore the ware had destroyed it" 330). Because of this, Briony is inspired to write a new draft of her novella.
Not only understanding these secrets, but understanding the mindset of a pre-teen girl is crucial for the novel. Children around that age have not only an imagination, but a tendency to stretch the truth, to lie, and are extremely creative. Given this and the nature of Briony's character, it is a recipe for disaster for everything that Briony had witnessed. Briony later admits that growing up is what had made her confess her secret, that it wasn't Robbie and it was really Paul who raped Lola.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
BA#7 Atonement
1.) Cecilia holds the secret that she loves Robbie. It's not a secret in the private no-one knows sense, but it the beginnings of their romance are a secret to them. For example there scene in the library, Briony thought Cecilia was being attacked, but the truth and the secret between Cecilia and Robbie is that it was true love "She meant the library, of course. It was theirs. No one could take it away. "It's our secret." she called out, in front of them all, just before the slam of the door." (250)
2.) This secret could be compared to the secret that Lola keeps from everyone in that it was not Robbie who raped her but Paul. Lola's secret only benefits her and harms everyone else. Robbie's and Cecilia's secret does not harm anyone and helps them foster a relationship. Both secrets change the course of lives, Lola goes on to marry Paul because she is not forced to disclose their objectionable affair "Given all that had happened, and all its terrible consequences it was frivolous, she knew, but Briony took calm pleasure in delivering her clinching news "(327). Robbie and Cecilia are allowed to build off of the foundation they built in the library.
3.) Understanding the secret is absolutely necessary. The reader learns to hate Lola and sympathize with Cecilia because of this secret. Lola goes along with a lie even though it sends an innocent man to jail. Cecilia clings to a memory to hold on to Robbie through years of being apart. This secret holds the entire novel together and shows character traits and flaws.
2.) This secret could be compared to the secret that Lola keeps from everyone in that it was not Robbie who raped her but Paul. Lola's secret only benefits her and harms everyone else. Robbie's and Cecilia's secret does not harm anyone and helps them foster a relationship. Both secrets change the course of lives, Lola goes on to marry Paul because she is not forced to disclose their objectionable affair "Given all that had happened, and all its terrible consequences it was frivolous, she knew, but Briony took calm pleasure in delivering her clinching news "(327). Robbie and Cecilia are allowed to build off of the foundation they built in the library.
3.) Understanding the secret is absolutely necessary. The reader learns to hate Lola and sympathize with Cecilia because of this secret. Lola goes along with a lie even though it sends an innocent man to jail. Cecilia clings to a memory to hold on to Robbie through years of being apart. This secret holds the entire novel together and shows character traits and flaws.
Friday, May 2, 2008
ba#6 mcewan's atonement
As of now, one of the main secrets that McEwan has proposed to us is who, throughout the course of the novel, will we hear their prospectives and what their legitimacy is. The story started out with many different accounts of the same day, as seen through different characters. Aside from the central characters, we don't know yet who will be a co-star or just a small character. The story, as it is going now, could go in many different directions.
This relates to Munroe's "A Real Life." In that story though we could tell whose character's eyes we were looking, it was often unclear how truthful the scene was. In "Atonement" we see that in each chapter, because it is told directly (in 3rd person) who is seeing the scene for us. Though the short story only told from one person's view, it is easy to see how the accounts might be very different had it been told from another. Also from Munro, "The Jack Randa Hotel" is similar to Atonement in the sense of not being able to gage who exactly the story will revolve around.
These questions are important to the story as it will unfold b/c it will allow us to witness the events that go on from different angles, sides, and hopefully be less bias towards certain characters, and therefore really get to know them.
This relates to Munroe's "A Real Life." In that story though we could tell whose character's eyes we were looking, it was often unclear how truthful the scene was. In "Atonement" we see that in each chapter, because it is told directly (in 3rd person) who is seeing the scene for us. Though the short story only told from one person's view, it is easy to see how the accounts might be very different had it been told from another. Also from Munro, "The Jack Randa Hotel" is similar to Atonement in the sense of not being able to gage who exactly the story will revolve around.
These questions are important to the story as it will unfold b/c it will allow us to witness the events that go on from different angles, sides, and hopefully be less bias towards certain characters, and therefore really get to know them.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
BA #6 Ian McEwan's Atonement
One of the secrets being kept in this story is the relashionship between Cecilia and Robbie. There is evidence in this story that leads us to believe that there is some kind of tension between the two. The narrorator tells us that they used to be really good friends but now everytime they talk they argue, however it seems as though there both just nervous being around each other and they are hiding their feelings.
This secret relates to the secret from The Jack Randa Hotel in the sense that there are characters that are hiding their feelings. I believe that Gail hides her feels for Will and eventually confesses them through letters pretending to be another person. In this story there is tension between Robbie and Cecilia, i believe there emotions are revealed later on in the story.
Im not sure if this secret is significant to the book but it definielty leaves the readers very curious and wanting to read more to the story.
This secret relates to the secret from The Jack Randa Hotel in the sense that there are characters that are hiding their feelings. I believe that Gail hides her feels for Will and eventually confesses them through letters pretending to be another person. In this story there is tension between Robbie and Cecilia, i believe there emotions are revealed later on in the story.
Im not sure if this secret is significant to the book but it definielty leaves the readers very curious and wanting to read more to the story.
BA #4 The Jack Randa Hotel
I. A significant secret in this story is the one the author, Alice Munro, is keeping from the reader until the very end. We assume that Gail wants to meet up with Will again, but then Gail runs away from him and back to Canada as soon as she can.
II. The secret that Munro is keeping from us can be compared to the secret that Gail keeps from Will. Gail hides under a pseudonym of a dead woman to correspond with him through letters, pretending to be interested in the history of their last name, and in them she hides the nature of why she's actually writing--to discover what he's been up to in the time they've been apart. Munro has been decieving the reader in a similar way--up until the end we are led to believe that Gail and Will will have a confrontation, and that Gail will want to talk to him. But in the end we discover that Gail was just testing him and is more interested in seeing if he will follow her than in talking to him.
III. This secret is extremely significant to understanding the narrative because it is what the story has been leading up to the entire time. If instead Gail had stayed and talked to Will, the ending would not be so dramatic and the story would not have had as much as an impact.
II. The secret that Munro is keeping from us can be compared to the secret that Gail keeps from Will. Gail hides under a pseudonym of a dead woman to correspond with him through letters, pretending to be interested in the history of their last name, and in them she hides the nature of why she's actually writing--to discover what he's been up to in the time they've been apart. Munro has been decieving the reader in a similar way--up until the end we are led to believe that Gail and Will will have a confrontation, and that Gail will want to talk to him. But in the end we discover that Gail was just testing him and is more interested in seeing if he will follow her than in talking to him.
III. This secret is extremely significant to understanding the narrative because it is what the story has been leading up to the entire time. If instead Gail had stayed and talked to Will, the ending would not be so dramatic and the story would not have had as much as an impact.
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