Blinded By Hate
As we all made our way through reading Atonement, we were able to have class discussions that gave us all the opportunity to vocalize our hate for the one and only Briony. The real question is, were we all too quick to jump the gun? As we read on through part 3 and the London, 1999 section, Briony reveals a new, more mature side of herself that we didn't get to see as a reader through her child hood days.
The one thing that I have started to love about Briony that many of us didn't get to see is the fact that she truly cares about her family, and even the people around her that are wounded from war, or the new friendships she has made. Briony is a truly caring person.
Yes, I understand many of you are probably questioning where I'm getting this idea from, especially the whole caring for the family thing, but just take a look a little deeper into why she does the things she does.
When Briony accuses Robbie of raping her sister Cee, it was because she truly believed that was what had happened. We all need to take into consideration the immature age she was at, and how jumping to these sorts of conclusions would be easy to come by. "Did you think it then? She fumbled her words. "Yes, yes and no. I wasn't certain." "And what makes you so certain now?" ..." Growing up.". (McEwan, 323) Just like any young child, they always want to be right, and they always want to impress their elders, but I feel that Briony was doing it also to save her sister. Briony and Cee were extremely close, as stated in the novel Cee acted as a motherly figure for Briony. When Briony saw what was happening in the library and read the letter it came across as more violent then it should have and Briony just didn't want Cee getting hurt.
Moving forward into part 3, we get to see Briony dealing with war times and the consequences of war through men and their injuries. Briony became a nurse at the hospital where she took care of many wounded patients day in and day out. This experience was definately a life changing and eye opening experience for Briony. The moment you realize Briony truly cares about her patients is the part where Sister Drummond tells Briony to go speak to Luc. This young fellow had lost half his head including parts of his brain, meaning he was not going to last much longer. Briony sat with Luc holding his hands and agreeing with everything he had been saying and asking, this wasn't for her happiness but for Luc's happiness. She cared about the young man enough to make him happy. "Do you love me?"..."Yes" No other reply was possible. Besides, for that moment, she did. He was a lovely boy..." (McEwan, 292)
Lastly, Briony cares extremely about her family as stated in the first point. She wants nothing more then the forgiveness of both Cee and Robbie for the things she has done in the past. Briony waits five years until she finally goes out and searches for Cee (presumably because she thinks Robbie is dead) and Cee wants nothing to do with it. Briony finally gets to say a word, and Robbie comes storming in, and in this moment i don't think Briony knows what to think, i think she just knows she's happy that her sister is able to be with Robbie and live a loving life together. Although both characters are extremely mad at Briony, she still sticks around until given orders. When given the orders that she thinks will give forgiveness she sets out on her journey and proceeds to start them. "Just do all the things we've asked." (McEwan, 329). The one quest was for Briony to write a long letter for Robbie, since both Robbie and Cee pass away, Briony writes this novel in hope for forgiveness, and less weight on her old self.
Overall, Briony once was a little naive, immature girl who came across as self-centred, but in the end she grew into this amazing author who didn't care about just herself but all the people who influences her life, and thoughts everyday.
Comment:
I'd like to reflect on Hayley Liskos post. I one hundred percent agree with her statement. Hayley kind of jumps off my ideas as well. Guilt and helping Robbie and Cee to no longer hate her is all that she is looking for, which is exactly my ideas from a different point of view. Briony just wants Robbie and Cee to live together in happiness without her mistake of accusing Robbie of such absurd behavior ruining their lives together. If Briony ever received forgiveness she would no longer have the guilt she is feeling as an older women for the mistakes she made as a young lady. In the end of the story we all know that when she finally finishes creating her novel to Robbie and Cee, that she is content in knowing that she has done what she had to do, she is finally guilt free and can die in peace.
No comments:
Post a Comment