A Study Of Biblical Archetypes In Atonement

This thesis attempts to analyze the biblical archetypes attached to Ian McEwan’saward-winning masterpiece—Atonement by applying Northrop Frye’s archetypal criticism.Hopefully, this systematic and comprehensive study of biblical archetypes in Atonement mayproperly connect this novel with literature as a whole and contribute to a better appreciationand understanding of the novel.Besides Introduction and Conclusion, this paper is mainly made up of four chapters.Introduction is intended to provide background information about Ian McEwan and hiscompelling work Atonement, sum up the existing reviews on this novel, introduce brieflyNorthrop Frye’s archetypal criticism and point out the research significance of this thesis.Chapter One focuses on three distinct biblical archetypes displaced in Atonement in theaspect of imagery. The image of Garden of Eden is represented by the Tallis country housewhich is the embodiment of Edenic beauty and harmony; the flood image is displaced withthe German Air Forces, which processes a devastating power. And the British evacuation boatis the displacement of Noah’s Ark; it bears a symbolic meaning of conditional election.Chapter Two is concerned with the biblical archetypes found in the main characters ofthe novel. Robbie has three attributes that connect him with Jesus Christ; Briony can belikened to Saint Paul. She commits a crime when she is young. And she devotes her rest life toatonement. In addition, Delilah is Lola’s archetype.Chapter Three elaborates the biblical archetypal structure in Atonement. In accordancewith the cyclical U-shaped narrative structure of the Bible, this novel is a comedy containedin a U shape. Meanwhile, it is imbedded with a micro U-narrative.Chapter Four studies the biblical theme of atonement in the novel. Firstly, the novelexpresses Briony’s desire for atonement. Then several obstacles to the desire are defined, asthe desire is in conflict with reality. Thirdly, Atonement reveals that because of Jesus Christ,Briony finally fulfills her desire for atonement.Based on the analysis and discussion in the preceding four chapters, it is safe to concludethat Atonement is a magnificent comedy permeated with biblical archetypes, which absorbthis novel into the mythological universe derived from the Bible and contribute to integrateand unify readers’ literary experience.