Atonement

The word atonement is a huge part of the novel for more than one character. The most obvious is Briony, as it appears that writing the novel about Robbie and Cecilia's story is her way of atoning for testifying that she had seen Robbie raping Lola, essentially sending Robbie to jail. Though Robbie's death likely would not have changed regardless since he would have probably gone to war anyways, she did almost singlehandedly send him to jail (though Lola had a lot to do with it as well). For this reason, I feel like nothing could ever atone for Briony's actions, especially an explanatory story.

In the beginning of the book, it seems as though Robbie is trying to Atone for being the son of the Tallis family's maid. He has graduated college and plans on becoming a doctor, obviously a far more prestigious and respectable position than that of his mother. Unfortunately, he never gets his atonement due to the actions of Briony.

Cecilia may be trying to atone for being from the Tallis family by ceasing all communication with them after what has happened to Robbie. She never really gets her atonement before she dies either.

The running motif in this book seems to be failed atonement rather than atonement. Perhaps that should have been the title instead...

Favorite Character

My favorite character so far is Sula. While she is very disliked by her whole community, I like very much the idea that she didnt care what anyone thought of her. That is not as if to say that I am at all like her or even want to be: she dies at an early age with no love in her life. I just have a tremendous amount of respect for her ability to live such a long period of time with such a terrible reputation.

I also really admire her uniqueness. I especially like the part of the book where she cuts off the end of her finger to scare away the bullies. It is unbelievable to me that she has the ability to inflict such intense physical pain to herself to avoid something that, granted, is probably much worse. It really takes the reader back to that time period when we see the extent to which people would go to get themselves or their friends and families out of trouble (we also see this when Eva allows her leg to get cut off by the train).

Stream of consciousness

Plot of the beginning of the movie "The Departed" through the eyes of the narrator of Donald Barthelme:

Colin shot his gun at the dummy and barged into the room. Billy Costigan was running some laps around the track to get in shape. After they graduated the academy, Colin went into a car with Frank and is presented a gift. Colin became a sergeant in the Massechusetts police. Billy joined Frank's gang to try to help the police.

Frank just killed some other gangsters, but he got away, as he always did.

Billy knocks someones teeth out, but Frank tells him it doesnt matter. Billy is a good person but he is trapped in the gang by the police.
Colin is the snitch! He tells Frank all the police business!

The Psychiatrist is in love with both COlin and Billy. She gives Billy the drugs he needs, even though she doesnt want him to have them. THey go out to coffee.

Colin and the psychiatrist are moving in together. Colin doesn't know what she's been doing.


That is the extent of my summary.

I found this assignment extremelly difficult. It is really hard to portray this narrator without either doing drugs or being crazy myself, which leads me to believe that Barthelme was either a brialliant author or was, in fact, on drugs or crazy.