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ce her beloved family members and also who betrayed her with a lame excuse.She imagined the promising future between her and Robbie.However,Briony’s perjurymakes it impossible.

It is this time that Cecilia feels real horror that she may separate from her love.AsHerman contends that“In situation of terror,people spontaneously seek their first source ofcomfort and protection”(Herman,52).She is hoping that her parents and her brother canmaintain their composure and stop Briony from telling a lie.On the contrary,all the adults in the Tallis family do not prevent the little girl’s subjective and groundless accusation but temptBriony to complete her lie.Cecilia’s mother even blames Cecilia for not telling her the wholething about Robbie.Herman points out in Trauma and Recovery that“the survivor’s feelingsof fear,distrust,and isolation may be compounded by the incomprehension or frank hostilityof those to whom she turns for help”(Herman,62).Cecilia’s basic trust in her family isshattered by their villainy and snobbishness.She cannot stand the fact that her parents and herbrother can be so indifferent to Robbie,who has lived with them since he was only a child andreceived high education.Cecilia is longing for maternal love but in vain.Her mother dotes onher younger sister while she has high hope for her brother.Since Cecilia is older than Briony,her mother takes it for granted that she can take good care of Briony and the whole family.

Chapter TwoThe Roots of Trauma in Atonement

2.1 Briony’s Act of Perjury

Briony Tallis,the leading character in Atonement,is a brilliant and imaginative youngwriter in this fiction.In an attempt to figure out the reasons why she ends up committingperjury which gives rise to remorse and guilt for the rest of her life,the defects in herpersonality,the lack of a loving family and misguidance from society cannot be neglected.

At the beginning of the story,she is shown as a thirteen-year-old girl,who is preparingfor the rehearsal of her drama,The Trial of Arabella,which will be used to welcome her olderbrother.In her fantasy,her drama can“guide him away right from his careless succession ofgirlfriends,towards the right form of his wife”(McEwan,4).Her definition of the right wifefor her brother,however,is just the one,who can“sweetly request Briony’s services as abridesmaid”(McEwan,4).In her inner world,she bears the power to provide some guidancefor others and the world should be under the control.This preference for the order ismanifested in the decoration of her room and the attitude towards what is permitted orforbidden.Compared with her sister’s room,which is full of“a stew of unclosed books,unfolded clothes,unmade bed,unemptied ashtrays,”Briony’s displays us a totally differentview,which is“a shrine to her controlling demon”(McEwan,4-5).The passion for orderforces her to make all things under her control,including the arrangement of the role in herown drama.

2.2 Cecilia’s Separation from Her LoveGrowing up in Tallis Estate and having received well education in Cambridge,CeciliaTallis develops an independent self-identity.In Atonement,Cecilia is a girl who has a“strangebeauty-something carved and still about the face,especially around the inclined planes of hercheekbones”(McEwan,79).Unlike Briony,her little sister,Cecilia has a much more practicalprinciple when dealing with others or things.At the s本论文由英语论文网提供整理，提供论文代写，英语论文代写，代写论文，代写英语论文，代写留学生论文，代写英文论文，留学生论文代写相关核心关键词搜索。