One of the novel's two protagonists, Briony, is introduced in the summer of 1935 as a precocious 13-year-old aspiring writer with a penchant for order and secrecy. She is the baby of the family, virtually an only child. She begins writing clumsy, imaginative short stories at age 11. On the day of her older brother Leon's homecoming, Briony happens to see her sister Cecilia strip down to her underwear and disappear into a fountain in front of Robbie, the household gardener and long-time friend. Briony chooses to interpret this as an action done under duress. The Trials of Arabella, Briony's play, is called off, disappointing her cousins. Briony has decided to be a novelist.
After taking out her frustration on a field of nettles, Briony takes a stand on the bridge, waiting for something grown-up.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 3,016 words. This
study guide contains 26,910 words (approx. 90 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Atonement Access Pass.
