Characters


 * Briony Tallis-** She is one of the main characters of the story, and the story is named after the atonement in which she seeks. At the beginning of the story, she is 13 years-old and is very introverted and private with her thoughts. She is an excellent writer and is extremely organized, but has a hard time communicating with her family, mainly because she wishes to keep her thoughts hidden. Briony is the one who originally accused Robbie of being Lola's rapist and insists that she 'knew' it was him. Later in her life, she regrets this accusation and comes to the realization that it was not Robbie who raped Lola, and that she was horribly mistaken. She struggles with trying to find an atonement for the awful crime she has committed.


 * Cecilia Tallis-** She is Briony's older sister, and is the lover of Robbie Turner. Cecilia is characterized as extremely unorganized, and also characterized by the 'motherly air' around her while she is in the Tallis household. Cecilia knew that Robbie was not the rapist and stood by his side to defend him. Because of the false accusations of her family, she leaves her family and does not speak or contact them. Cecilia struggles over the battle between the love for her family and the love for Robbie, but she feels she can never forgive her family for what they have done to Robbie.


 * Robbie Turner-** He is the son of one of the Tallis' employees and has much favor in Jack's eyes. Jack has taken Robbie under his wing and has funded his schooling, of which Robbie has persued several different interests. Robbie most important role in the story is that of Cecilia's lover, who is wrongly accused of raping Lola. Robbie is sent to prison for 6 years and shortly after his release, is sent to fight in World War II. Robbie lives on the fact that Cecilia is waiting for him to come home.


 * Paul Marshall-** He is a friend of Leon's and a guest at the Tallis house the summer at the opening of the story. He is characterized by his excessive amounts of talking, although he seems polite. Paul is the actual raper, however he does not say anything when Robbie is accused. Paul ends up marrying Lola, despite the fact that he raped her.


 * Lola Quincy-** She is the cousin of Briony, and a guest at the Tallis house after her parents divorced and her mother ran off to Paris. She is characterized as very high maintenance and very arrogant and is always exaggerating to receive attention. Lola is the one who is raped the night the twins run away, and she admits that she's not sure who raped her, despite Briony reassuring her that she saw Robbie run away in the darkness. Lola actually ends up marrying Paul, despite the fact that he is her rapist.


 * Leon Tallis-** He is the older brother of Briony and Cecilia and is characterized by his calmness and colectiveness. Leon is very much loved by both his sisters. Leon is the one who brought Paul to stay at the Tallis house.


 * Emily Tallis-** She is the mother of Leon, Cecilia and Briony. She is characterized by her frequent migraines to which she responds by laying in her bed for hours. She is not much of a mother-figure when Jack is not home, and Cecilia often takes up her responsibilities.


 * Jack Tallis-** He is the father of the three Tallis children, and the wife of Emily. He is never home much and blames it on his 'work' when in actuality he is having an affair. Jack, like Leon, is characterized by his calmness.


 * Pierrot and Jackson Quincy-** They are the twin brothers of Lola. They are very upset by their parents' divorce and don't like staying at the Tallis' at all. They run away the night Lola is raped.


 * Danny Hardman-** He is an employee of the Tallis' and works with his father. Cecilia believes that Danny is the one who really raped Lola.


 * Corporal Mace and Corporal Nettle-** They are two of the people that Robbie make friends with during the war.