How is the theme of

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How is the theme of "Atonement" explored in the book of that name?

Atonement comes from an "at onement", the idea being that penance and suffering allows us to be "at one" with God or ourselves. The central theme of atonement is that of seeking forgiveness. This is manifested through the characters and their actions. In the book "Atonement" by Ian McEwan, the act carried out by Briony sets of a chain of events, for which either atonement is sought or society seeks atonement from.

Briony's character is described as being compulsively orderly,

"She was one of those children possessed by a desire to have the world just so."

Briony's craving to manipulate and control, and also her perception of how Robbie spoilt her play, leads her to committing her crime. Her overactive imagination causes her to misinterpret a scene between Robbie and Cecelia, and then later catches them in the library, where she incorrectly concludes that Robbie is attacking Cecelia. Later, when she discovers Lola has been raped, she immediately says,
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"It was Robbie, wasn't it?"

She completes her sin by saying,

"Listen to me. I couldn't mistake him. I've known him all my life. I saw him."

In this first half of the book, Briony forces Robbie to atone, for upsetting the balance in her controlled, systematic world, by his taboo relationship with Cecelia. Briony believes that Robbie deserves his fate. Indeed, she is furious when she thinks Robbie might be believed over her,

"Who would believe her now, with Robbie posing as the kindly rescuer of lost children?"

Briony is ...

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