Narrative voice and agency
linguistic choices in Ian Mcewan’s atonement with an emphasis on educational aspects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22633/rpge.v29iesp4.20757Keywords:
Narrative Voice, Linguistic Choices, Ian McEwan, Atonement, Narrative TheoryAbstract
This article examines the relationship between narrative voice and agency in Ian McEwan’s Atonement. Through linguistic analysis, it shows how shifts in perspective and distinct authorial voices shape the reader’s perception of character agency. The study highlights how McEwan’s linguistic choices reinforce key themes such as guilt, memory, and moral responsibility. By analyzing selected passages, it demonstrates how the manipulation of language deepens emotional impact and encourages critical engagement with characters’ motivations. The article argues that narrative structures both enable and limit characters, revealing tensions between authorial control and individual agency. It also situates Atonement within contemporary narrative theory, illustrating how McEwan’s stylistic innovations raise questions about identity, truth, and the subjective nature of reality. Overall, the analysis underscores how narrative strategies contribute to the novel’s ethical complexity and challenge traditional views of storytelling and character autonomy.
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