Institution: Escuela Normal Superior en Lenguas Vivas Sofa E. B.

de Spangenberg
Programme of Studies: Traductorado Tcnico-Cientfico-Literario en Ingls
Subject: Literatura en ingls del siglo XX
Guided by: Griselda Beacon
Year: 2010

The Meissen vase as a symbol in Atonement

By Virginia Scocchera

Atonement (2001) is Ian McEwans most complex and challenging novel. He plays with
post-modernist elements every time in this fiction. The metaliterary function is the main
ingredient since not only does the book refer to the act of writing itself, but also its
ending is a turning point in which the reader acknowledges that the story, told by main
character Briony, is mere fiction a novel within a novel. Moreover, countless
references or quotations to other works appear in the book, what makes Atonement a
good example of intertextuality, one of the latest features that modern authors have
been including in their writings. It must also be highlighted the current use of polyphony
as it creates an excellent panorama of the deeds it is the multi-perspectival narration
that constructs a web to fully understand the main incidents from different viewpoints
and the actual plot in Atonement.
The novel has not only got one theme to be taken into account, it deals with
many topics that are shown up through the use of symbols all over the book. As the
title itself depicts, this work of fiction discusses penitence, sin and fantasy subjects. It is
also a novel of coming of age: Briony Tallis, even though she acts more mature than
she is, becomes aware of different issues and thus, she makes her testimony, however
false. Throughout the tale, her awareness is emphasised by the use of thresholds
(doors, fences, etc.) that separate her from the rest and underline her crossing to a
more mature life. These boundaries also correspond to Cecilia Tallis and Robbie
Turners ending; the three characters are literally separated since they never meet
again, and that is the reason why Briony decides to keep them alive, at least in fiction.
Love is an important theme as well. Cecilia and Robbie cannot accomplish their
dreams of being together and, what is more, their relationship has suffered many
transformations. Such changes are symbolized by the Meissen vase from the very
beginning. The genuine porcelain shows us the growth and weakness of this affair and
foresees Cee and Robbie harrowing ending. However, not only does the antique signify
their union, but it also portrays the Tallis family. Too closely related to Cecilia-Robbie

romance, the relative bonds are represented by the image of the vase, which was a
present from an uncle.
This paper aims to point out the allegory of the Meissen vase throughout the
book; whenever the relationship between Cecilia and Robbie experiences a change, it
can be visible through the state of the relic. The family and the mansion where they live
also play an important part in the treatment of the antique. It is the family who condemn
Robbie to prison and, therefore, to his death. Similarly, Cecilias family leads her to a
life without the person she loves and to her upsetting fate. The vase also foreshadows
the background of the story warfare. It is brought to the Tallis house during the Great
War and, finally, it is completely destroyed during the Second World War.

The vase
The Meissen vase has a very important role in the representation of the bonds
between Cecilia and Robbie. From the very beginning we realize that there is no
relationship between them (they used to be close friends, but circumstances in life lead
them to a lack of communication). Class is inevitably a big preoccupation here (Daniel
Mendelsohn 2002) since one of the reasons why they do not talk to each other
anymore is their rivalry at university. The working-class boy, who is financially aided by
Cecilias father, is able to achieve a better degree than the upper-class lady. Their
social division also makes everyone believe Brionys sham accusations rather than see
the truth. Although Robbie has been an acquaintance of the Tallis family for a long
time, they will still doubt about his innocence because he does not have the same
social status as his masters. The vase depicts a fragile relationship between the young
couple. The relic is as delicate and weak as their rapport: whenever something decisive
takes place in the story, the object gradually splits.
When the reader gets to the fountain scene, focused on three different points of
view, they learn that the vase has been broken, though afterwards it is mended. This
first rupture anticipates the event that happens later the same night: Briony blames
Lolas rape on Robbie the broken antique corresponds to Cecilia-Robbie relationship
since they finally declare their love to each other, but soon they are separated again
because of Brionys lies. The wounded vase will later meet an even worse fate, and
this premonitory damage echoes what happens to other fragile objects highly valued
but easily ruined (Frank Kermode 2001). These initial cracks predict the end of the
couple relationship: they will never meet again, and their affair, experienced only for a
night, is broken for reasons alien to Cecilia and Robbie. The vase may have been fixed
but the ruptures are clearly seen. Although they are in love with each other, Cecilia and
Robbie are doomed to be separated forever.

During Brionys visit to Cecilias house, the reader gets to know that the object
is fully broken, for which Cee is seen quite appalled. The complete split of the genuine
porcelain symbolizes the end of the couple relationship they will not be able to be
together again since they are dead. The announcement of the broken vase is
described in Cees house not by chance. Briony has never been to her house; in fact,
this scene is only written by Briony for her own atonement and for the reader to realize
Cecilia and Robbie actual ending. The antique shows that their relationship is over in
the same way as the relic is it is fragmented. However, not only has their affair
finished, but also Cecilias bonds with her family are destroyed. The partial rupture of
the vase near the fountain portrays Cees separation from her family because of
Brionys allegations that Robbie has assaulted Lola. From then on, Cecilia starts
having no contact with her family at all and rejects them. Subsequently, the fully
destroyed object expresses the fact that Cecilia and her family will never reunite again
and her refusal to the Tallises as they believe the false denunciation of a thirteen-yearold girl. Thus, the Meissen vase is extremely connected with the family since it belongs
to Cecilias uncle and, therefore, connotes the ancestry of the family and how
generations go by. Let us remember that Robbie Turner has been living with the
Tallises for long and been supported by Jack (Cecilias father) he can also be
considered as part of the family.
The setting of Atonement is also highlighted through the antique. The
connection between the family and the vase is originated in wartime when Uncle Clem
is given the relic. War is always present in the novel: Briony and Cecilia become nurses
and help wounded soldiers, Robbie is sent to war after spending three years in prison,
and the heirloom is finally broken into pieces during World War II. Perhaps, its
complete damage is a fictional device employed by Briony in her own story. What she
tries to illustrate is her own personal struggle between herself and the guilt she feels for
having committed such a crime. England is on the brink of war; Briony, a budding
writer, is on the edge of adolescence (Mary Whipple: 2003). The beginning of the war
depicts her coming of age: the whole world is in conflict, fighting one against the other,
situation mirrored in Brionys life and mind. An inner battle is set about between her
apprehension of new concepts and her previous notions of life and, thus, she
misinterprets what she sees, not knowing if it is good or bad. It is difficult to cross the
boundary from one stage to another, particularly when becoming a teenager. Her
accusations and awareness lead to the destruction of the family union and there will be
no turning back Cecilia will never forgive her sister. The vase also corresponds to the
division of the family and the onset of the war. The Tallis family is split because Cecilia

pushes them aside and, similarly, the world is separated into two blokes during the
war the Entente alliance and the Central Powers.

Conclusion
In Atonement, the symbolism of the Meissen vase is extremely fundamental for
the portrayal of relationships and the anticipation of the actual ending. The gradual
destruction of the relic points out the division of the Tallises. After the antique is broken,
Cecilia goes away from her family since they make the couple be separated. The
disunion of them leads to the division of the whole family Cecilia does not tolerate the
misunderstandings and incriminations of the family, so she leaves. Similarly, Briony,
some time later, feels the consequences of her sin, and it is her who decides to set
apart from her family and her desires she becomes a nurse instead of studying at
university. Her shame makes her write a novella called Two Figures by a Fountain,
where she includes the deeds of the broken vase, episode which conducts her to
blame Robbie and change the life of everybody.
The vase tries to demonstrate how relationships can be broken easily by a mixup. The Tallises collapse and the bonds they used to have will not be the same never
again. Therefore, the family can be highly compared to the antique it is broken and
later, fixed; however, its cracks will remain discernible forever. In his compact and
clockwork-precise earlier fictions, McEwan (...) liked to show how relationships and
people can disintegrate in ways that manage to seem both shocking and inevitable.
(Daniel Mendelsohn 2002). Likewise, Atonement illustrates the destruction of the
Tallises by a simple comment that is false and triggers off a pity end specially for
Cecilia and Robbie, who do not succeed in their love. By the time the crime is
committed, the whole family and guests are reunited; McEwan chooses this moment of
gathering to set the main crucial event in the novel. The climatic scene of betrayal is
positioned in the only moment when the Tallises and friends are grouped, what makes
an excellent background to judge Robbie in front of everyone. He will feel humiliated as
everybody is witnessing Brionys accusations.
The relic well defines the bonds among each character of Atonement; its state
describes the situation in which the family is. The vase, after being smashed, will not
acquire its previous image. Likewise, none of the relationships will remain as they used
to be; the bonds among them will be weak and frail, they will have cracks impossible to
repair and, eventually, their connections will be null, inexistence, reflected in the
antique, which has turned into pieces. Family bonds are unattainable to reconstruct
Cecilia and Robbie die and there is no way back. The vase reflects, in particular, the
couples life: it shows the end of their affair and the fact that none of them will never

again see each other in their lives. The cracks of the object anticipate the upcoming
charges against Robbie and the inevitable consequences this causes. The destruction
of the heirloom demonstrates that the couple died and will never reunite again.
Therefore, the state of the vase portrays an excellent objective correlative to Cecilia
and Robbies affair.

References

Ian McEwan, Atonement, Vintage (2007)

Daniel Mendelsohn (March 11th, 2002) Unforgiven. The New York Books,
http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/books/reviews/5776/

Frank Kermode (October 4th, 2001) Point of view. London Reviews of Books,
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v23/n19/kerm01_.html

Mary Whipple (January 19th, 2003) Mostly Fiction,

http://www.mostlyfiction.com/world/mcewan.htm#Atonement