Universal Themes In Atonement

Literary texts, although set in a particular time and place, convey ideas that are universal. In which ways, and to what extent, is this true in the work you have studied?

Despite the time and place in which a novel is set, they will always convey ideas that are relatable by a wide range of readers, known as a universal theme. These are themes that many people can relate to for a number of reasons, whether it's because they include common life experiences or are simply concepts of human nature and allow readers to connect to the story emotionally. Examples of universal themes that are most commonly conveyed in novels are truth, lies, appearances, reality, fate or destiny. These universal themes do not change or become redundant over time …show more content…
Briony Tallis is only thirteen years old, and witnesses these different events of that day where she is exposed to the adult world of love, sex and intimacy that a little girl would not be able to understand. She therefore misinterprets these scenes such as her sister stripping off her clothes and plunge into the fountain whilst Robbie watches or when she walks into the library whilst Robbie is making love to Cecilia. Her misinterpretation is not only due to her immaturity, it is due to her need for things to be in order, to be in its right place, as described on page 5, “the farm consisted of the usual animals but all facing one way...even the farmyard hens were neatly collaborated” perhaps being a metaphor for social order in Briony’s world. Therefore the events she witnesses she cannot understand but tries to make sense of it all at last when she sees a black figure disappear from the crime scene where Lola had been assaulted. Due to Briony’s sense of order she convinces herself and Lola for that matter it was Robbie who she saw because then everything would make sense and the chain of events that she had witnessed would simply add