Atonement

The title Atonement is very appropriate for the novel because many of the characters in the novel struggle with atoning for their past actions. The character that most obviously wants to atone for her actions is Briony. Throughout the story she tries to do the impossible and make up for sending Robbie to jail. In the end she finds out it is impossible for her to correct what she has done so instead she tries to give them their happiness through her writing. Another character that tries to atone for her actions is Lola. Although she does not do anything wrong directly she is horrified by what has happened to her in her childhood and tries to fix things by marrying the man who raped her as a child. A character that isn’t obvious is Robbie. His atonement isn’t for something he has done but for who he is. He never feels he deserves to be with Cecile because of his class and status. His atonement can be seen in the war when he becomes a leader and takes control of the situation. This gives him a status level that he has never experienced and one that he feels is capable of reaching Cecile and is deserving of her. The only characters in the novel that do not try to atone for their actions are Cecile’s parents and Paul Marshall. Its almost as if this sense of trying separates the good from the evil characters. Although many of the characters commit sins, it is those that try to atone that make up for their mistakes.

A Little Too Strange

So far this semester I have read many stories that I really liked and those I did not like at all. For my free post I wanted to talk about two of these stories. My least favorite story is "The Decent of Man". This story is just a little too strange for me and I believe Boyle is simply expressing problems he has with others views. It does make the reader think and is a great piece of work to analyze, but is not interesting enough to keep the reader interested. Boyle very clearly expresses his dislike for the ideas of Dawin although in my mind his way of doing it is very ineffective. My favorite piece of work this semester is "The Man From Mars". Just like in "The Decent of Man" the story expresses dislike, but instead of the ideas of Dawin the story expresses dislike for those who are not open to other cultures. Atwood gets this point across in what I feel is a very effective way. The short story contains many themes that the reader can relate too and the story does not incorporate any crazy ideas, such as a woman having sex with a monkey. I do understand the purpose for each of the two works but I also believe that although all writing has a place in postmodern thought, some types of writing do not appeal to all audiences.

Fire and Light

The only thing familiar to me is the bright light, knowing I’m alive. The artificial sun beating down on me makes me hot. Heat from the inside as well heat all over. I fall off again loosing sight of the light loosing sight of reality. The light shines again but this time fleeting. The room is bright but the light is fleeting, the light of day. Everyone is safe now, well everyone else. I did a good job why me why me. The light comes again the good light, knowing I’m alive. I feel my skin but everything my skin feels is hot. Everything that I touch everything that touches me is hot, why me. Thoughts race through me, is this real, is it me, will I still be me. I fade again with the light. I cough again deep cough hard to catch a breath. Light is all around me but the light I need is too far. I’m all alone no one is here to save me, I was here to save and I did. I did a good job why me why me. I fall and reach for nothing, reach for the air I cannot breathe. Falling further down where there is no hope of waking up. I switched, I brought them out and brought me here, why me, where there is no hope, until the light came again. The wonderful light, knowing I’m alive. Familiar shapes above me, I am not alone, not anymore. The hand that saved me touches me. Still burning but a good burn, knowing I’m alive. I did a good job. They did a good job, why me.