Archetypal Criticism of the Book, Term Paper

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That is alluded to again when Robbie "saves" Briony from drowning, and she tells him, "I wanted you to save me'" (McEwan 217). Robbie is almost a larger-than-life figure, and in the novel, he represents everything good and decent, while Paul represents pure evil, but receives the rewards, anyway.

Cecilia seems to have finally found what she has been searching for, and the couple seems poised to live "happily ever after," but Briony ruins that with her energetic mind that reads too much into situations, and does not question things satisfactorily. In her mind, she knows that she has acted rashly. She thinks to herself during the accusations, "She was like a bride-to-be who begins to feel her sickening qualms as the day approaches, and dares not speak her mind because so many preparations have been made on her behalf" (McEwan 159). In her heart, she knows she is wrong, and in her heart, she would like to atone for her mistake, but sadly, she never gets the chance. She has sealed the fate of Cecilia and Robbie with her false accusations, and she will not be able to make it up to them - ever. Robbie's entire fate changed that night, but he could have been Prince Charming, if he had only had the chance.

Cecilia is a Cinderella-like figure in the romance, as well. She never wavers in her love and trust of Robbie, and tells him, "I'll wait for you. Come back" (McEwan 190). With that, the reader has hope that even with all that has occurred, a happy ending is still possible, and the two can live out their fairy-tale. In Briony's fictional world, that is indeed what happens, and it seems that there is indeed some kind of justice in the world. Wrongly accused, Prince Charming manages to survive the war and return to his faithful Cinderella, and they can spend the rest of their lives together making up for lost time. Of course, the entire Cinderella archetype of this novel proves that fairy-tale endings really are not the way of the world.

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In reality, people are wrongly accused, never get a second chance, and they miss out on some of the best experiences in life. It can happen to anyone; even basically decent people like Cecilia and Robbie, while the real culprits, like Paul Hammond, get away with their crimes and live relatively happy lives.

In fact, as the novel reaches its conclusion, it appears Briony's own life has had its own Cinderella qualities. She has grown up, married, become a famous novelist, and enjoyed a happy and remarkable career. Yet, the cloud of what she did to the two young lovers so many years ago always covers her accomplishments, and it is interesting to note that her last coherent actions are to bring her novel about the entire affair and her own part in it to life. It is also interesting to note that the author felt it was important to continue the Cinderella archetype throughout the novel to the very end, allowing the reader to believe there really could be a happy resolution to the convoluted story.

In conclusion, the archetype of Cinderella permeates this novel that becomes the last novel Briony will ever write. It tells the tragic love story of Cecilia and Robbie, and in her final Cinderella moment, Briony ends her version of the novel happily, with her own atonement for her accusation and Cecilia and Robbie living long and happy lives. She believes her readers would accept nothing less, when in reality the couple both dies during World War II. The Cinderella ending epitomizes the use of the archetype throughout the novel, and indicates that McEwan is a talented and quite organized storyteller, who knew exactly what he was doing when he chose the Cinderella motif. He uses it to maximum effect, and it makes the novel even more….....

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