Class and Social Prejudice

Atonement

Examines how class divisions shape the characters' fates, particularly Robbie's conviction.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The cleaning lady's son The cleaning lady's son from "Atonement". The Scholarship Boy The Rise Robbie Turner is the son of a cleaning lady. He wins a scholarship to grammar school, then to Cambridge.

The cleaning lady's son from "Atonement". The Scholarship Boy The Rise Robbie Turner is the son of a cleaning lady. He wins a scholarship to grammar school, then to Cambridge.

The Scholarship Boy The Rise Robbie Turner is the son of a cleaning lady. He wins a scholarship to grammar school, then to Cambridge. He is brilliant and ambitious. But he is always aware of his class. The Patronage Jack Tallis has supported Robbie's education. The patronage is generous, but it also reinforces the class hierarchy. Robbie is a project, a proof of Jack's liberal principles. The Barrier Despite his success, Robbie is never fully accepted. At Cambridge, he and Cecilia drift apart. The class difference is an unspoken barrier. He is the "cleaning lady's son" in a world of privilege.

The conviction The conviction from "Atonement". The Class Bias The Suspect When Lola is assaulted, Robbie is the obvious suspect.

The Class Bias The Suspect When Lola is assaulted, Robbie is the obvious suspect. He is working class, educated beyond his station, and has a criminal record (the obscene letter). The police and the family are predisposed to believe him capable of the crime. The Alternative Danny Hardman, the handyman's son, is also a possible suspect. He has a crush on Lola and was seen near the lake. But his father provides an alibi, and the police do not investigate. Robbie is a more convenient suspect. The Injustice Robbie is convicted because of class prejudice. He is an outsider who has risen too high. The system is rigged against him. His conviction is a miscarriage of justice rooted in social inequality.

The aftermath The aftermath from "Atonement". The Consequences Cecilia's Estrangement Cecilia rejects her family's class prejudices. She chooses Robbie over her privileged life.

The aftermath from "Atonement". The Consequences Cecilia's Estrangement Cecilia rejects her family's class prejudices. She chooses Robbie over her privileged life.

The Consequences Cecilia's Estrangement Cecilia rejects her family's class prejudices. She chooses Robbie over her privileged life. She becomes a nurse, living independently. Her love transcends class. Briony's Guilt Briony's false accusation is partly motivated by class bias. She cannot imagine her sister loving the cleaning lady's son. Her worldview is shaped by the class assumptions of her upbringing. The Legacy The novel critiques the class system that allowed Robbie's conviction. It shows how prejudice can destroy lives. The theme of class is central to the tragedy.

before 1935

1935

1935-1940