Atonement Plot Summary

Introduction

Setting: The Tallis family estate.
Main Character: Briony Tallis, a 13-year-old aspiring novelist.
Briony's Play: "The Trousers of Arabella" planned for her brother Leon's homecoming dinner.
Family Dynamics:
- Maternal cousins: Jackson, Pierrot (young twins), and 15-year-old Lola Quincey.
- Father, Jack Tallis, is away in London.
- Mother, Emily Tallis, suffers from migraines.
Robbie Turner: Son of the housekeeper, falls in love with Cecilia Tallis.
Misinterpretation:
- Briony misinterprets a scene between Robbie and Cecilia.
- Misunderstands a letter from Robbie to Cecilia as perverse.
- Witnesses their intimate moment in the library, mistakes it for assault.
False Accusation:
- Briony falsely accuses Robbie of raping Lola Quincey during a search for the missing twins.
- Robbie is arrested.

Setting: France during World War II.
Robbie's Journey:
- Marching with corporals to Dunkirk.
- Reflects on war atrocities and his situation as a soldier and victim of false accusations.
Injury and Determination: Robbie is wounded but determined to return to Cecilia.

Setting: London
Briony's Guilt:
- Joins as a nurse in London.
- Hopes nursing serves as penance.
- Continues writing; submits and receives feedback on a story.
Witnesses War:
- Experiences horror of Dunkirk soldiers' return.
- Attends Paul Marshall and Lola Quincey's wedding.
Confrontation and Confession:
- Visits Cecilia and discovers Robbie is alive.
- Admits guilt but seeks advice to clear Robbie's name.
- Given instructions by Robbie and Cecilia, which she agrees to follow.

Briony's Role as Author:
- Revealed to be the true author of the story.
- Explains her research for the war part of the book.
- Briony is terminally ill.
Twist Ending:
- Confesses that the reunion with Cecilia and Robbie was fictional.
- Both Robbie and Cecilia died during the war.
- Final atonement through the creation of their everlasting love in the book.

Fourth Wall Break: The novel is presented as Briony’s own, not Ian McEwan's.