Briony Tallis is a fictional British character in the novel, Atonement written by Ian McEwan Briony is a 13-year-old girl who is a daughter of wealthy upper-class parents. She yearns to be a writer and is deeply invested in the idea of being a heroine. She believes her aggrandized imagination can save her when reality doesn't match up to her expectations. Briony is an important character as she is the catalyst for a great number of disastrous events that take place in the novel.
Example 1: The Loss of Innocence
Briony Tallis experiences a great loss of innocence as the novel progresses. At the beginning she is a young girl who strongly identifies with being a hero and a savior. She is naive, believes in the power of her own imagination, and behaves naively. However, after Robbie and Cecilia's encounter in the fountain, Briony does not see the same world she once did. Despite her limited understanding, she gets a glimpse of the adult world and the physical and sexual attraction between two people. As a result of her discovery, Briony begins to abandon her innocence. This loss is seen in her attempts to control the lives of Robbie and Cecilia, and in her false accusation of Robbie as the attacker of her cousin Lola.
Example 2: Creativity
Briony Tallis is a creative character in the novel. She has a deep love of writing and literature, something she inherited from her mother. Throughout the novel, she writes various plays in which she acts as the heroine. She writes as a form of escapism as she is unable to properly express her feelings in her own life. Briony also attempts to shape reality to fit her imagination, something that is evident in her false accusation of Robbie, believing that in doing so, she is saving her sister from further suffering.
Example 3: Impetuosity
Briony Tallis is an impetuous character throughout the novel. She is driven by her own sense of justice and she often ignores the consequences of her actions. This is seen in her false accusation of Robbie, despite her brother Leon's warnings. She ignores Leon's protests as she is determined to protect her sister. Briony's impetuosity is not just seen in this instance, it is also seen in her relationship with her parents and her desire to be an actress. Despite her parents' wishes for her to focus on school and her studies, she insists on pursuing a career in writing and the theatre.
Example 4: Despair
Briony Tallis experiences despair and guilt throughout the novel. Her impetuous actions have caused irrevocable harm to the lives of Robbie and Cecilia, and she is unable to undo the damage. Her sense of justice leads her to falsely accuse Robbie which causes the two lovers to be separated and ultimately leads to the death of their child. Briony's guilt is seen in her later years when she spends her life trying to atone for her mistake.
Example 5: Redemption
Briony Tallis finds redemption in the end of the novel. After spending a lifetime struggling to atone for her mistake, she is eventually able to find peace. She begins to understand the consequences of her actions and comes to terms with her choices. In the end, Briony is able to make amends with Robbie and Cecilia and is able to move forward in her life. Her redemption serves as a reminder of the power of forgiveness and the importance of understanding one's own mistakes.