The Meaning of Atonement

Atonement by Ian McEwen

Have you ever done something wrong, really wrong? Something you’ve felt guilty for for years? Have you asked yourself over and over, why did I do it and what could I do to fix it?

Atonement is defined as compensation for a wrong. In a religious context, it means being forgiven for a sin by God after making a compensation for the sin. In a more worldly view, it means being forgiven for a wrongdoing by the person who you wronged after making a compensation for that wrong.

In McEwen’s Atonement, we meet an interesting cast of characters who live in a pre-World War II England: most importantly, 13 year old Briony; her 23 year old sister Cecelia; the 16 year old cousin, Lola; the rich visitor, Paul Marshall; and the landscaper, 23 year old Robbie. The scene starts with Briony writing a play, which she will cast her cousins to act in when Briony’s older brother comes home with his rich friend, Paul Marshall. Meanwhile, Cecilia, who has just returned from college, has a run-in with Robbie, the landscaper who grew up with Cecilia and who also goes to her same university. Robbie realizes he is in love with Cecilia and decides to write her a note. In drafting his notes, one of them states his bawdy thoughts as is, while one is written more for the reader. While he is writing this, Briony is caught up in the drama of what the play should be, and runs to the yard to fantasize about what the world will be when she is an all-important author in it. When Robbie finishes, he bids Briony to deliver the letter to Cecilia so she can ponder the letter. While she is running to do her job, Robbie realizes he has put the wrong letter in the envelope; the bawdy one is on its way to Cecilia. Cecilia receives the letter and is at first shocked. However, this shock makes her realize that she, too, loves Robbie. They meet and begin a romance. However, Briony has read the letter, and in her young mind, believes only a lunatic could write something so horrid. She begins to make him a sort of devil in her mind, so much so that when Lola is attacked and raped by someone at the party, Briony instantly blames Robbie, although Mr. Marshall bears an odd scratch on his face that wasn’t there before. Briony’s testimony, along with the letter Cecilia received, are enough to condemn Robbie to prison for raping Lola.

This, however, is only the beginning of the story. The years pass, and Briony grows up. As she grows, she starts to see what really happened that night. As this realization comes to her, she realizes what she has done to Robbie, in sending him to prison as an innocent man. She realizes what she’s done to Cecilia and Robbie, by separating them in their love, causing Cecilia to abandon her family. So she comes up with a story where they end up together and Briony tells the truth. But with what history has brought England and these characters, their reunion never happens. Briony has done something so terribly wrong, but she can never make it better. There is no atonement to be had. Because she made up the story, she is the god of the situation. And while gods provide atonement for their subjects, there is no atonement for God.

I have to admit that, at the beginning, I was a bit skeptical about a story surrounding a girl and her silly play. However, McEewen’s style was intriguing, and I figured there had to be more to a story called Atonement. So I kept reading. And I am so glad that I did. As the text unraveled itself before me, I was amazed at what an involved and intricate story this was. The characters were rich and deep, and though each has his or her character flaws, I found it truly hard to hate them, especially Briony’s character, who is the reason behind the whole fiasco to begin with. When the story wraps up with its explanation of what atonement means for someone like Briony, who created the story, I stopped dead in my tracks. I’d never thought about God needing an atonement and how real it must be that, according to the setup, he couldn’t have one. According to scriptures, if he could, he would “cease to be God.” Not only did this book make me rethink points of view and see a difficult (for the characters) story as beautiful and enthralling, it made me consider the origins of atonement and what a great burden that would be on any of us to have none available to us.

I should note that if you are averse to some swearing and would be offended by the bawdy letter and ensuing romantic rendezvous that this book might not be the best choice for you. However, for those (like myself) who don’t have a problem with this, I can fully put my support behind Ian McEwen’s Atonement.