Narrativizing Psychological Trauma in Atonement by Ian McEwan
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Department of English
Abstract
This thesis project explores the traumatic and tormented psychology of the major characters as dramatized in Ian McEwan's Atonement through the critical perspective of psychological trauma. The psychological and neurological disorder of the characters as represented in their behaviors is examined there by focusing on the multiple origins of trauma including sexual repression, jealousy, revenge, loss of parents and so on. The central narrative of Atonement highlights the guilt-ridden world of Briony, who is psychologically tortured throughout her life due to the crime of false accusation of Robbie as rapist of Lola which brings complete turmoil in the life of both Robbie and Cecilia ruining their aim in life. Her trauma is further intensified when she is completely rejected and dejected by Robbie and Cecilia without giving her chance of atonement for which she desperately endeavours. The devastation and destruction of France, England and Germany brought by the Second World War is drawn through the letters of Robbie to Cecilia in order to justify the impacts of war in the psyche of people. Amid adverse and hostile situation, the major characters - Briony, Robbie and Cecilia - attempt to normalize their traumatized and problematized life through writing for expressing their sufferings and confessing their crimes and thus sharing through writing is applied as the process of healing traumatic wounds. Moreover, their service to the nation - Robbie as the soldier in the Second World War, and other two as the nurse in London work as a soothing balm and means of working through their trauma.