Part two of Atonement focuses on Robbie and his experience in the war. Near the beginning of his treck to Dunkirk, the narration records Robbie’s stream of consciousness:
He lit another cigarette to curb his hunger and tried to reduce his task to the basics: you walked across the land until you came to the sea. What could be simpler, once the social element was removed? He was the only man on earth and his purpose was clear. He was walking across the land until he came to the sea. The reality was all too social, he knew; other men were pursuing him, but he had comfort in a pretense, and a rhythm at least for his feet. He walked / across / the land / until / he came / to the sea. A hexameter. Five iambs and an anapest was the beat he tramped …show more content…
Five iambs and an anapest.” By specifically naming the meters used within the structure of the sentence, a strong connection between the passage and the theme of literature forms. Furthermore, this line finds itself echoed two more times throughout the rest of part two in order to form a poetic summary of Robbie’s experiences. The initial line, on page 206, speaks of Robbie “walking across the land until he came to the sea.” Coming at the beginning of Robbie’s trek to Dunkirk, the line provides a succinct description of Robbie’s goal: to get to the sea at Dunkirk. The first repetition comes towards the end of his journey to Dunkirk, stating how “He walked across the land until he caught the taste of the sea”(227). This line draws from the common saying of being so close to something you can almost taste it, further helping to characterize Robbie desperation to reach Dunkirk. The third echo comes on page 248, stating that “[he] walked across the land until he fell in the ocean.” At the end of the novel, Briony reveals that Robbie actually died from an infection at Dunkirk. The fact that the line includes Robbie falling into the ocean leads to the idea of drowning and, ultimately, death. Especially when taken in the context of the line’s …show more content…
As the passage states, “his purpose was clear. He was walking across the land until he came to the sea.” When taken literally, the sea is Dunkirk and Robbie’s walk to it was caused by the order to retreat. When looked at more closely, however, the sea symbolizes Robbie’s reunion to Cecilia because it is his only way to get back to England, therefore representing his escape from the war and, ultimately, his return to Cecilia. Therefore, when Robbie thinks about walking to the sea, it can be inferred that he is really thinking about reuniting with Cecilia. Robbie’s desire to reunite with Cecilia can further be seen when Robbie contemplates: “What could be simpler, once the social element was removed? He was the only man on earth and his purpose was clear. The reality was all to social, he knew.” As previously established, Robbie’s ultimate goal of walking to the sea was to return to Cecilia. Following this thought, however, Robbie thinks over how much of a challenge society presents to his goal of walking to the sea, therefore establishing his belief that society caused the complications that kept him and Cecilia apart. All Robbie wanted was to be with Cecilia, however, it was society who got in the way, starting with Briony’s false accusations and other people’s disbelief in his innocence. Now, after prison, society still complicates
He lit another cigarette to curb his hunger and tried to reduce his task to the basics: you walked across the land until you came to the sea. What could be simpler, once the social element was removed? He was the only man on earth and his purpose was clear. He was walking across the land until he came to the sea. The reality was all too social, he knew; other men were pursuing him, but he had comfort in a pretense, and a rhythm at least for his feet. He walked / across / the land / until / he came / to the sea. A hexameter. Five iambs and an anapest was the beat he tramped …show more content…
Five iambs and an anapest.” By specifically naming the meters used within the structure of the sentence, a strong connection between the passage and the theme of literature forms. Furthermore, this line finds itself echoed two more times throughout the rest of part two in order to form a poetic summary of Robbie’s experiences. The initial line, on page 206, speaks of Robbie “walking across the land until he came to the sea.” Coming at the beginning of Robbie’s trek to Dunkirk, the line provides a succinct description of Robbie’s goal: to get to the sea at Dunkirk. The first repetition comes towards the end of his journey to Dunkirk, stating how “He walked across the land until he caught the taste of the sea”(227). This line draws from the common saying of being so close to something you can almost taste it, further helping to characterize Robbie desperation to reach Dunkirk. The third echo comes on page 248, stating that “[he] walked across the land until he fell in the ocean.” At the end of the novel, Briony reveals that Robbie actually died from an infection at Dunkirk. The fact that the line includes Robbie falling into the ocean leads to the idea of drowning and, ultimately, death. Especially when taken in the context of the line’s …show more content…
As the passage states, “his purpose was clear. He was walking across the land until he came to the sea.” When taken literally, the sea is Dunkirk and Robbie’s walk to it was caused by the order to retreat. When looked at more closely, however, the sea symbolizes Robbie’s reunion to Cecilia because it is his only way to get back to England, therefore representing his escape from the war and, ultimately, his return to Cecilia. Therefore, when Robbie thinks about walking to the sea, it can be inferred that he is really thinking about reuniting with Cecilia. Robbie’s desire to reunite with Cecilia can further be seen when Robbie contemplates: “What could be simpler, once the social element was removed? He was the only man on earth and his purpose was clear. The reality was all to social, he knew.” As previously established, Robbie’s ultimate goal of walking to the sea was to return to Cecilia. Following this thought, however, Robbie thinks over how much of a challenge society presents to his goal of walking to the sea, therefore establishing his belief that society caused the complications that kept him and Cecilia apart. All Robbie wanted was to be with Cecilia, however, it was society who got in the way, starting with Briony’s false accusations and other people’s disbelief in his innocence. Now, after prison, society still complicates