For Thursday 3rd December

Write 500 words expressing your response to the statement: "A thousand years will pass and the guilt of Germany will not be erased”

Vincent's response to the use of Prolepsis in Atonement.

“Briony was hardly to know it then, but this was the project’s highest point of fulfillment”

This is a short but significant prolepsis because it shows the reader Briony’s role in the novel. Firstly, the author suggests to the reader that the play that Briony made, which is seen as very childish would be the best thing Briony would achieve throughout the whole novel. This would make us think about why and how Briony wouldn’t be able to achieve anything else better than just a play, perhaps she will do something bad that would make the reader loose sympathy for her, or her character is simply boring and monotonous.

Furthermore, this quote also creates an emphasis on how important the play would be and how it would contribute a lot to the novel, because the play reflects on Briony’s character and on how she sees everything in black and white. Perhaps this would be bad later on in the story, for example when she sees Robbie and Cecilia by the fountain or when the blamed Robbie for the rape just because she saw him as a bad guy from a fairy tale.

Prolepsis (Extract 2)

“Six decades later [Briony] would describe how at the age of thirteen she had written her way through a whole history of literature, beginning with stories derived from the European traditional folk tales, through drama with simple moral intent, to arrive at an impartial psychological realism which she had discovered for herself, one special morning during a heat wave in 1935.”

Prolepsis is the rhetorical act of anticipation (in essence, here, the reader’s ‘premature’ knowledge of later events). In other words, the author gives account of future events that will definitely come true to the reader. The use of “six decades later” creates this effect.

Earlier on, McEwan introduces Briony to the reader. She is seen as an immature, innocent, ignorant and short-sighted girl. When McEwan uses prolepsis, he hints a transition in the character of Briony. “Six decades later”, he suggests that Briony has become very wise and mature, realising her faults in her late childhood. In some way, the distaste for Briony that the reader created for her is reduced, knowing that Briony will eventually realise her faults and strip away her childhood characteristics.

The use of “six decades later” also reveals the fact that Briony has survived the war. Within these six decades, McEwan informs the reader that Briony has experienced a long and enduring journey in reference to her passion for writing: “...had written her way through a whole history of literature”. This also reveals that Briony will mature rapidly in her writing, as well as her thoughts of the world around her through her written expression.

Furthermore, McEwan’s use of prolepsis lures the reader. The reader is intrigued to find out what will happen “six decades later”. The reader questions if Briony truly does become a mature person and wants to know how she survived the war and her experiences during that period.

Prolepsis in Atonement (extract 3 from page 90 --- on handout)

PROLEPSIS IN ATONEMENT (EXTRACT ANALYSIS)

“To what extent is prolepsis used on page 90 and to what effect?”

“In years to come he would often think back to this time, when he walked along the footpath that made a shortcut through a corner of the oak woods and joined the main drive where it curved towards the lake and the house.” – PAGE 90.

This is the scene before he gave the letter to Briony, and the letter giving should have been a small event, but it wasn’t depicted to be so due to the way the author has phrased the aforementioned sentence. The letter giving becomes very significant and the extract emphasizes the event and heightens its importance in order to impact how we feel about the oncoming outcome of the events, we begin to understand the true magnitude of devastation and havoc that will be caused because the author clearly states that the next few pages will contain an event that will be so major that it will be prevalent later on in the novel or in the life of the character, “In years to come”. Through prolepsis the author uses minor events and heightens its importance in order to monitor a particular character carefully, focus on the larger picture and perceive the next few pages differently in order to have a greater impact on the advent of important events in the novel. And this way, McEwan, with his specific phrasing, effectively allows the reader to not only focus on shock or the unfolding of events (as passive readers) but to focus on the moral issue and the idea conveyed and HOW the unfolding of events took place (as active readers) and hence, this has an engaging effect.

Prolepsis in 'Atonement'

5. ‘Within the half hour Briony would commit her crime.’

This statement is the first sentence of chapter thirteen and so its impact is big. When the reader reads this, he/she would immediately ask ‘what crime?’ This subtle hint of future events will engage the reader and compel him/her to keep reading on to find out what the ‘crime’ is. The reader could also predict and roughly guess what the ‘crime’ Briony will commit is by inferring from the previous events and Briony’s childish and melodramatic way of thinking. The readers can also infer ‘The Trials of Arabella’, Briony’s play, which basically shows what happens in the book. This is another example of prolepsis McEwan uses in the novel ‘Atonement’. So by doing this, McEwan makes the reader lose sympathy for Briony and we start to dislike Briony. This also gives away what Briony does so it may ruin it for readers who like surprises hence the critical remarks by critics who are against prolepsis.
However, this particular sentence is more of a foreshadowing than a prolepsis. This is because it doesn’t exactly tell us what is going to happen but only leaves subtle clues of what might happen afterwards.
Therefore, by using prolepsis and foreshadowing, McEwan makes readers think and keeps them ‘active’ throughout the book and not passive.

COMMENTARY ON CECILIA (PAGE 18-19 WHEN WE ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO HER)

PAGE 18-19 – CECILIA AND OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO HER

3RD Person narration – the author is all-knowing, OMNISCIENT.
the use of the words “youth”, “glory” and “blossoming” – have positive connotations and presents her youth, her situation, her ADOLESENCE, there is CONSTANT reference to EXTERNAL BEAUTY AS WELL – perhaps Cecilia is judgmental and is shallow?
“could not conceal the ugliness of the Tallis Home” – again, reference to appearance and could also be in relation to – how she feels about the people and the relationships between the people WITHIN the house? – She is perhaps desperate for a change and is looking down on her heritage, or her roots.
Reference to youth – “barely forty years old” – she is constantly worried about age and youth, her own as well as her surroundings. We can also see that most family establishments go back generations, but this is a fairly new establishment, perhaps this is foreshadowing? We can see that there is more of a history to be made of this house, more stories to come and more events to take place under its roof.
“In an alien northern climate, he was a long way from home, but he was beautiful in the morning sunlight” – perhaps she is talking about herself as she mentioned earlier to be “desperate” for something to do, maybe she is NOT in her comfort zone, and she is a long way away from her comfort zone, maybe that refers to bad relations within the Tallis household? Foreshadowing that since the relationships are NOT strong, they will soon fall apart furthermore. She is a vulnerable person, who tries to detach herself from her family.
Repetition of the word “morning sunlight” and also, the author states “The cool high shade of the woods was a relief” – perhaps this PATHETIC FALLACY indicates OPRESSIVE HEAT and this could build up tension – perhaps Cecilia’s vulnerable character is about to encounter something serious.

Domestic spaces

Domestic Space:Dining room (pg 125-128)

Characters relevant: The Tallis family with the exception of Jack Tallis, Robbie Turner, Paul Marshall, Lola, Pierrot and Jackson Quincey.

Key events relevant: -Marshall leaning back and saying to Robbie ' I say, are we still on for tennis tomorrow?' and Robbie answering 'I suppose we are'.
-Leon suggesting that England in a heat wave is good and his mother disagreeing.

Barriers and Connections: The dining room is a public space where the whole family and some guests have dinner together. Here Paul Marshall shouldn't have faced away from the hostess and started a private conversation, but he did so, breaking a social convention. Also, when he did this, Emily Tallis couldn't take any action as Marshall was a guest. Hence, here Marshall was somewhat liberated from the barriers and social conventions. Briony, who was more hostile to Robbie at that time than ever, acts rude to Robbie. She wasn't supposed to do this and a barrier was broken when she did so thus provoking a reprimanding from her mother.

Significance to the novel and themes: When Marshall asks Robbie about a tennis match the next day an Robbie answers 'yes' there is a bit of irony. This is because Robbie is arrested that very day for a crime that Marshall had commited thus preventing Robbie from having a tennis match with Marshall the next day.
Also, when Leon says ' "I love England in a heat wave. It's a different country. All the rules change." ' and goes on to say that ' "People are more at ease - a couple of days' sunshine and we become Italians. Last week in Charlotte Street they were eating dinner at pavement tables." ' his mother quickly disagrees and kind of discreetly command everyone to behave normally by saying ' "hot weather encouraged loose morals among young people. Fewer layers of clothing, a thousand more places to meet. Out of doors, out of control. Your grandmother especially was uneasy when it was summer. She would dream up a thousand reasons to keep my sisters and me in the house." ' This foreshadows the events that will take place later on when Marshall rapes Lola. This is because by 'out of control' Emily was suggesting that her mother wanted to prevents things like what happened to Lola from happening to Emily and her sisters.

Domestic Spaces

Domestic Spaces: Drawing room (pg 20-21)

Character relevant: Cecilia

Key events relevant: -Incident in front of Triton fountain
-Emily Tallis and Briony Tallis not really caring about Cecilia

Barriers and Connections: The drawing room is a space where guests may be entertained. Such a public function makes the drawing room a public space. In this extract, Cecilia stands in the drawing room and thinks about her 'homebound boredom'. From 'set of steps led down to the lawn on whose border Robbie still worked, and which extended to the Triton dountain fifty yards away' we can see that she is staring out at Robbie. All this can be done in her room, which she had to herself and is a private space but she chooses to do this in the drawing room and so breaks the barrier and the social convetion that one should not aimlessly loiter in a public space. If her mother or another adult saw her like this she would have been told to go to her room since she had no purpose in the drawing room. In this case, Cecilia breaks the restrictions and chooses to loiter around in the drawing room.

Significance to the novel and themes: From the quote stated in the paragraph above we can see that Cecilia isn't genuinely angry with Robbie and she was doing it only to make Robbie feel guilty. This is significant to the novel as this shows us that Cecilia still loves Robbie but just doesn't show it.

'that her family was owed an uninterrupted stretech of her company... her mother, when she wasn't nurturing her migraines, seemed distant, even unfriendly.'

'thinking some intimate conversations might develop. However, Emily Tallis wanted to share only tiny frets about the household, or she lay back against the pillows'

'Briony was lost to her writing fantasies - what had seemed a passing fad was now an enveloping obsession.'

From these quotes we can see that Cecilia expected a warm welcome home and thought that her family missed her, but realized that they didn't really care about her. This foreshadows the time when she leaves home to be alone after Robbie's arrest.

CHARACTERIZATION - COMMENTARY ON CECILIA (PAGE 176-177) BY ADAM NGUYEN

Cecilia seen as: nervous, dependent, paranoid, insecure, mysterious, helpless, losing her ‘touch’ and responsibilities.

· Cecilia is masked away from the scenario/ scene: “Where was Cecilia?” Losing her sense of importance within the Tallis family? Also questions the reader what they previously thought about her (before = independent, feisty)

· “She hovered”: the use of “hovered” suggests that Cecilia isn’t participating in the current situation. It is as if she isn’t even there with her family. It can be paralleled to a ghost hovering above the ground? à Lack/ loss of touch with reality. Reader continues to question her importance to the scene at this stage.

· Seen as mysterious in the opening lines of the extract. Could be shell-shocked, nervous, and anxious?

· Cecilia is extremely nervous, for reasons the reader does not know yet. McEwan keeps the reader in suspense, questioning: ‘what is she so nervous about?’ “...speaking to no one...she twisted a handkerchief in her hand as she paced the hallway.” Contradicts her confident character that the reader witnessed previously. This is confirmed when McEwan states: “Normally, she would have taken control of a situation like this, directing the care of Lola, reassuring her mother, listening to the doctor’s advice, consulting with Leon.”

· “...came over to talk to Cecilia, who turned away, unable to help, or even speak.” Cecilia blocks herself away from her family, seen as useless and uncooperative by the reader. Foreshadows her attitude to her family later on. Her lack of communication initiates the withdrawal of her connection with her family.

· “[Emily] actually grew as her older daughter shrank into private misery.” McEwan uses emotive language: “private misery”. This is somewhat ironic. Cecilia begins to lose her responsibilities as her mother rediscovers hers. It is an indication of a role reversal, becoming typical = Daughter takes no action; Mother takes responsibility of the situation.

· “Briony became nervous of [Cecilia].” McEwan continues to show that Cecilia is losing her responsibilities as an older sibling to Briony. Forces Briony to worry about the safety of her older sister/ Briony is ‘looking out for Cecilia’.

· “While others stood murmuring in groups, she moved restlessly up and down the room, or from one room to another, or, on at least two occasions, went to stand outside the front door. Nervously, she transferred the hankie from one hand to the other, coiled it between her fingers, unwound it, squeezed it in a ball, took it in the other hand, lit another cigarette.” Seen as immensely nervous, paranoid and insecure. This, once again, contradicts her once independent, dominant, feisty spirit.

CHARACTERIZATION - COMMENTARY ON CECILIA (PAGE 96-99)

KEY PASSAGE – CHAPTER NINE (PAGE 96-99)

We are reading this extract from The Author’s point of view, but its Cecilia whose thoughts we are aware of. Hence, the author is giving us Cecilia’s account of what is happening.
This is important, as even though Cecilia’s thoughts are what we are aware of, it is the authors comments that we take note of.

Overall, we could say that the author’s intentions are to make us relate to Cecilia, expose different facets to her character and how she is in the privacy of her room, what her train of thoughts are.

The use of the words “immediately” and “reconsider” and “moments inspiration” indicate Cecilia’s over-thinking mind, as she acts fast and is frequently inspired. She seems to be creative and energetic. Also, she is understanding and has good crisis-management abilities as she is calm and reserved when she ought to be on behalf of other people – “You’ve got one sock each then, and you’re fighting over it.” – (the scene when the twins come to her for assistance even though she has other things to handle)

Authorial comments that originally spring from Cecilia’s train of thought such as, “Its air of invulnerability was heightened by the darkness of her eyes” portray Cecilia to be very aware of her features, as she puts a lot of thought into things.
Also, The rhetorical questions to herself (directed at the reader – “How was she to think straight?”) and lists “swapped her pearls, re-touched her make-up, applied perfume”, indicate Cecilia’s restless, over-wrought character at this point, yet it also illustrates her energy levels and ability to be fast-paced and energetic.

Yet, she is easily over-wrought and when in flurry, over-whelmed. However, Ian McEwan uses A HYPHEN to describe the dress she chose out and how exactly it’s the best choice. “Hem – a safe choice.” – This use of this particular sentence structure/syntax/punctuation illustrates Cecilia’s calculated+reasonable mindset+way of thinking.

Ian McEwan uses SIMILES to shed light on Cecilia’s thought pattern. He claims that she feels (in certain cases) like AN OLDER PERSON OF 70/80. “80 year olds party frock – future self” - PERHAPS SHES SCARED OF OLD AGE. She mocks old age, “all I need is rabbit buttons” – perhaps she has distaste for older people. Maybe she’s narcissistic? And she LOVES HER YOUTH, yet she seems like she can exaggerate scenarios. She is very SELF CONSCIOUS – “figure-hugging” – proud of her sex appeal.

“slippery+secure” – she feels sexually alert. SIBILANCE TOO- indicates softness/sleekness, maybe she wants to feel like that in Robbie’s company? – This is an indication to SENSOUS THOUGHTS ABOUT HIM.

She feels/is – young and energetic. She loves her youth, confidence and sexuality. However she is a complex character – she doesn’t want to FEEL TOO YOUNG. “wouldn’t help looking like sherley temple” - strong approach to adolescence. She wants to MATURE. A very anxious, demanding, thoughtful character. She is merely concerned about her image – Perhaps to impress someone (Robbie in this case)

She is sensuous – as McEwan gives us an indication to her age (post – finals gown) – we can tell that she is young and thriving and perhaps her restlessness is to do with impressing someone. She is self-conscious but not to the point of obsession.

In contrast to that, as youthful as she wishes to be, McEwan presents to the readers her maternal side. She is soft, motherly, caring and affectionate – there is an adult side to her – “She couldn’t help feeling gratified” (as the twins held her hands)

But, at the same time, she maintains her lively, thoughtful behaviour out of will – because a short sentence follows the aforementioned quote “she couldn’t not help thinking about her dress” – her thoughts steer back straight to her, and this short sentence (syntax) – shows her over-working/passionate/restless/self-conscious mind.

DOMESTIC SPACES - THE LIBRARY (ALSO IN HARD COPY)

Domestic Spaces: THE LIBRARY (PAGE 84)

CHARACTERS RELEVANT

1. Robbie

KEY IDEAS RELEVANT

1. Robbie’s train of thought

2. When he goes to return a book in the library of the Tallis household

BARRIERS AND CONNECTIONS

1. Notions to class difference raised as “Volumes on Versailles he had borrowed, first day he noticed his awkwardness in her presence, state of his socks – holed at the toe”

2. Robbie and Cecilia have very different status’ and he is entering the “sacred” part of the house, “dusty old paper” – the library is an old place but has books that are classics and worth a lot.

3. A private place – privacy – the surroundings have been touched by Cecilia, this gives Robbie the chance to touch what she has touched in a sacred manner, “worshipping her traces.”

SIGNIFICANCE TO THE NOVEL AND THEMES

1. The setting of the library at this point is crucial to dictate the grandeur and privacy of this place – it signifies + dictates the connection between Robbie’s class and Cecilia’s class and how perhaps it will come to affect their future (as Briony will get involved and render him too worthless for his sister)

Domestic Spaces: THE LIBRARY (PAGE 121-124)

CHARACTERS RELEVANT

1. Briony

KEY IDEAS RELEVANT

1. The library as the central focal point of the house “if father was here, he would be sat most of the time in the library, had a good idea which authority to consult and would take her into the library to help her find it” – Briony mentioning her father and the library. Library is closed when her father isn’t around, which is most of the time, she stops by, but doesn’t enter.

2. She walks in on Robbie and Cecilia making love and is terrified.

3. Cecilia leaves and Briony is left to wonder about what just happened.

BARRIERS AND CONNECTIONS

1. The barrier is the door to the library with its grand “brass” handle, that Briony turned, something that shouldn’t have been opened was, and that makes a connection with the oncoming future events – BRIONYS INTRUSION IN THEIR LIVES.

2. Area of privacy and seclusion “he trapped her where the shelves met at right angles” but the entrance of briony – is an unexpected encounter that forms the base of the novel.

3. Also, Briony entering a forbidden zone only to encounter something that is beyond her grasp to understand – she is on the edge of adolescence.

SIGNIFICANCE TO NOVEL AND THE THEMES

1. The domestic space of the library is dark as the shapes in there are “dark” but it is still slightly “illuminated” by the lamp that illuminates a little more than the “tooled leather surface” – perhaps this is an indication to Briony’s understanding? Ignorant, but just slightly enlightened, only to a certain degree.

2. Also, perhaps this unexpected intrusion signifies the transition that Briony makes from a normal livelihood to a more complex, tedious one. The domestic space of the library (that is meant to be enclosed and not chanced upon randomly) makes it possible for us to see that an unwelcome guests intrusion could spark many events – of which many will be deadly.

Domestic spaces: THE LIBRARY (PAGE 138-139)

CHARACTERS RELEVANT

1. Briony

2. Cecilia

3. Robbie

KEY IDEAS RELEVANT

1. Cecilia and Robbie are getting intimate

2. Briony walks in on them

BARRIERS AND CONNECTIONS

1. A place that is essentially ENTIRELY within the house, the very core of the hose “in a house, in total silence”

2. “Dimly illuminated” – must be quiet, silent and there are rules in a library.

3. For adults and private functions, age difference, adolescence “There was no good reason why she should be here”, PRIVATE, inner part of the house, not where guests or children are allowed. PRIVACY+SECLUSION.

SIGNIFICANCE TO THE NOVEL AND THEMES

1. The library in many ways signifies the divide between the adult world and the child’s world.

2. Briony walking into the room in the middle of Cecilia’s and Robbie’s act breaks the barrier because initially the library is used to dictate an enclosed area that is forbidden, and when it is trespassed, there are grave consequences. Hence, the intrusion into the library (where Briony is NOT supposed to be) is also (on a larger scale) an intrusion of Briony into Robbie’s and Cecilia’s lives. – there is suspense and tension built, there is a climax because Briony opens a door that is not supposed to be opened (at least by her)

3. Also, since the library is a place of knowledge and privacy and solitude, Ian McEwan uses the words (from Robbie’s perspective) “Propelled from her depths of ignorance, silly imagining and girlish rectitude, she had come to call a halt” – this places emphasis on Briony’s inability to be mature as she is ignorant and girly and has come to call a halt. There is a huge contrast displayed as we can see why she isn’t allowed in the library to start with, she is ignorant, and since it is taboo for her to be there, she can’t be permitted to impose rules on others and “call a halt”

ATONEMENT - PAGE 3/4 EXTRACT ANALYSIS

Atonement, a novel by Ian McEwan, is a novel set in Britain during the mid 1930’s in the Tallis’ household. The novels protagonist is Briony Tallis and the opening scene of the novel (page 3 and 4) is written with the purpose that the Author wishes to foreshadow (through Briony’s play “The Trials of Arabella”) and shed light on Briony’s character and the theme of melodrama. All this is conveyed through the Authors use of sentence types/functions and connotations.

Ian McEwan, an omniscient 3^rd person narrator, introduces us to Briony in the opening pages and we learn about her character through her own perceptions of herself and through Ian McEwan’s perception of her through authorial comments and Briony’s dialogues and behavior.
Briony sees herself as organized and independent, as she “designed the posters, programs and tickets” and she also perceives herself to be passionate as she “burrows in her bed” and has a “passion for secrets”, but also, we see her passion for romance, drama and melodrama through her artistic temperament as she was caused to “miss a breakfast and lunch” to complete her play. Although, her artistic temperament could be misinterpreted by the reader as Briony’s need to exaggerate. Furthermore, her tendencies to be romantic and melodramatic are shown through her Play that we are told about. She’s very moralistic because her story has Black And White morals and is Dramatic, with the use of the phrases “desperately sad, reckless passion”; she is also very romantic as she simply must include a “prince in disguise.” In addition to that, she is very well educated as we are apprised of her use of correct syntax, “the play – for which…”

However, the author’s intent is to portray her differently through his authorial comments. McEwan introduces us to Briony through phrases like “Controlling demon” and this is to illustrate Briony’s controlling traits, alongside that, there is the use of the phrase “Under strict instruction not to touch the wall”, hence Briony wants everything to be her way, this doesn’t indicate her independence, just her controlling traits. “Reckless passion and wicked count” are phrases used by the author to describe the characters that are Briony’s construction in her play, and hence, we can see that the Briony is not creative, just merely melodramatic and clichéd. Also noted by the readers, Briony is very manipulative and attention-seeking as she “put her arm around her mother’s shoulder, studying her face”, and therefore we can see that she seems to be the kind of person to use her mother’s maternal inclinations to gain acceptance and approval and as we can see at the end of the extract, Briony is in dire need of attention as SHE wants to be the one asked to be a bridesmaid, SHE wants to be in the limelight during her brother’s wedding. And because she is desperately under the impression that he must quit his succession of long girlfriends and must be “guided to the right kind of wife”, we can see Briony’s naïve mindset exposed. She may be very innocent, “she had no secrets” but she is very obsessive, “desire to have the world just so.” And because of her innocence and naivety, the author foreshadows the doom that is to come because of Briony’s youth, ignorance, moralistic views and desire for secrecy/importance/attention.
Thus, since we took note that Ian McEwan includes Multiple narration from himself as the omniscient, 3^rd person narrator, and from Briony, we can understand that through his characterization that when it comes to Briony, we must render her an unreliable narrator because of her childish traits and from that Ian McEwan effectively foreshadows. He does so through the use of introducing her at the very start of the novel, hence if we are apprised of her naivety and unreliability in the start of the novel, we can then tell that this protagonist will influence the course of the novel, and hence, foreshadowing is effectively done.

Not only does Ian McEwan foreshadow through the introduction of Briony and her traits, but through use of various connotative words such as “tempest”, perhaps he may be foreshadowing by telling us of the impending doom or the reality of Briony’s character and how it may change. Also, the authors opening scene is intended to foreshadow and this is, once again, impressionably done so through the introduction of Briony’s play, “The Trials of Arabella”, the tale is a tale of passion and is overly dramatic and childlike, and we can see that Briony’s thoughts are that she believes that one must reflect, redeem, get rewarded and that reckless passion and lust are wrong and that well-founded love is good. She believes that passion MUST be punished, one must reason and seek redemption, and therefore, we can see that in her head, she is very moralistic. And this may not be the case because sometimes passion May be good and love may be wrong, and not always will a good decision lead to a reward. However, as we see Briony’s head-strong belief in this moralistic view, we can see that there is impending doom as she will impose her influence on whatever situation she can.

Thus, we can clearly see that, through the use of connotative meanings and the introduction of Briony’s character that Ian McEwan effectively introduces is protagonist, and in doing so, impressionably foreshadows the impending doom that forms the course of the novel.

National Identity

Write 500 words analyzing the role of one character in the novel and how the author uses them to convey ideas about National Identity.

Captain Corelli is created to express DeBernieres’ thoughts about the stereotypical views of different nationalities. The novel contradicts the idea of a book having its title but its main character comes after the book has gone halfway.
Corelli was first introduced to the readers through Carlo’s descriptions; “he observed life with raised eyebrows”, “he would say things for the sake of their value as amusement”, “he did not care what kind of impression he made”. These descriptions make Corelli a carefree person, filled with sense of humour, but also love women. He is a man full of sense of humour, cheering everyone up, he is the shining star within a group. By creating “La Scala”, it reveals the passion for music that Corelli has; this gives Corelli an artistic side. These could be the common characteristics an Italian soldier might possess.
But as an officer of an army, Corelli is describe as not serious and being funny. This shows that the Italian army is not very serious about this war; they do not care about this battle, and put soldiers’ lives at a low price. This could also reveal the heartless characteristics of Italian soldiers. There were no organisation or planning before the battle at the island, this enlarges the careless thoughts of the Italians, but also the over-confidence that is within the soldiers. Humourous but careless are characteristics that a typical Italian soldier might have.
Captain Corelli plays the mandolin in his group “La Scala”, this gives him leadership. Within any group of music, usually the person who can sing and play the instrument can have the skills but also the trust from others to lead the group. Through this, you can say that Italian soldiers have the ability to lead a particular group.
From being broken-hearted, Carlo’s heart is cured with the presence of Corelli. Corelli heals Carlo’s heart and makes him a life-loving man again. Through his artistic skills, his sense of humour, excludes his charming appearance, he now possesses Pelagia’s heart, after it has been smashed up by the comeback from Mandras. 2 people whose hearts have been broken, now are cured by Corelli through his typical characteristics that Italians soldiers might have. This info that DeBernieres adds into the novel, lets the readers know that Italians could be charming, intelligence and funny. You could say it is impossible for Pelagia to get angry at Corelli because he makes her laugh every time she sees him, the silliness he has around her also by being himself, not taking things serious.
In conclusion, we, as the readers, can say that a typical Italian man can have the sense of humour, the attractive appearance looking, the artistic value within their souls, and also the carefree characteristics, that does not take things serious.