Symbols/motif's Flashcards
The Vase
symbolisesthe fragility of relationships and the Tallis family’s wealth and history.
The vase’s destruction foreshadows the damage to Robbie and Cecilia’s relationship and the Tallis family’s fortunes.
The vase is a family heirloom that was given to Uncle Clem to commemorate his liberation of a village in World War I symbolises the Tallis family’s wealth and long history, heroism and war.
‘a section of the lip of the vase came away in his hand, and split into two triangular pieces which dropped into the water and tumbled to the bottom in a synchronous, sea-sawing motion, and lay there, several inches apart, writhing in the broken light’. 3,29 the breaking of the vase symbolizesthe fragile nature of Robbie and Cecilia’s relationship, foreshadowing its destruction due to Briony’s false accusations, essentially representing the shattering of their love and the subsequent disruption of the Tallis family unit as a result of the misunderstanding.
‘The fountain and its retaining wall and the half-scale reproduction of Bernini’s Triron in the Piazza Barberini in Rome’ ch2pg13
The Tallis fountain is based on Bernini’s Triton, dead bodies displayed in front of it and the people were invited to try and recognise them. Alludes to war and Robbie and Cecilia’s fate.
the fountain symbolizesa pivotal moment of change and revelation in the relationship between Cecilia and Robbie, representing a shift from a platonic bond to a passionate attraction, often misconstrued by young Briony due to her limited perspective, ultimately leading to the destruction of their lives
Water
water primarily symbolizespurity, rebirth, and renewal;often appearing as a symbol of hope and a chance for characters to cleanse themselves from their past mistakes.
Transformation and coming-of-age: When Cecilia jumps into the fountain, the water represents her transition from childhood innocence to a more mature understanding of her desires.
Hope and survival: During the war scenes, water is often depicted as a source of life and a symbol of Robbie’s will to survive.
Guilt and cleansing: While water represents purity, it can also be used to signify the need for atonement and washing away of guilt, particularly in Briony’s perspective.
