Examples Of Injustice In Atonement

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Irony is something that seems to directly contradict a precedent set before it, and is seen everywhere in the world, often having dismal consequences, but it also serves to point out that there is something wrong with the current state of affairs. Briony Tallis, a character from Ian McEwan’s Atonement, is also a victim of this type of irony, as her undeveloped system of justice results in a great injustice; however, this injustice serves to improve her understanding of justice as she realizes her wrongdoings and attempts to atone for them meanwhile her life is used by McEwan to send parables to his audience that prove to enrich his novel. The exposition of Briony as a smart, but naive little girl influences her poor judgement, and helps relay …show more content…

This injustice is the accusation of rape upon Robbie which sends him to prison, and additional misfortune arises when Robbie is forced into the military. Due to Briony’s immature sense of what justice truly is, and her earlier misconceptions about what had actually happened, she ends up committing a great injustice despite having the initial illusion that she had done good. After a while, Briony realizes the magnitude of what she had done as she gets older and learns more about life. Briony’s actions in the past that have condemned and incarcerated Robbie now prove to plant the seeds for atonement into the mind of Briony Tallis. Briony learns that everything should not be taken at face value, and begins to comprehend the suffering that Robbie and Cecilia go through as a result of Briony’s own accusation. The false accusation impacts Briony in her perception of the real world and her understanding of justice deepens when she realizes that she has had experienced injustice firsthand. Because Briony is a sympathetic character that cares for others, it can be inferred that she wishes no injustice of the magnitude she has committed upon anyone else. This event helps McEwan send the message that rash behavior is only punished by the world as it influences a swath of people, suggesting that patience is always the way to

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