In this chapter, it is chapter, McEwan's presentation of Robbie serves to guide the response the reader will have to his actions later in the novel, as well as the tragic events that he is a victim of.
It could be argued that if McEwan had provided such as detailed and ultimately favourable presentation of Robbie, some readers may have come to interpret his obscene not to Cecelia as an act of aggression- in the same that Briony does- and consequently antagonise him. This may have lea
d to the reader having a negative view of Robbie's motive when he goes to meet with Cecelia in the library, and perhaps more of an ambiguity surrounding the assault of Lola: like Briony, the reader may have perceived Robbie to the criminal based on their interpretation of his letter as 'evidence' of him being 'dangerous'.
If the reader did follow the thought process outlined above and came to perceive Robbie as the criminal, McEwan's subsequent presentation of the hardships Robbie faces during his experience as a soldier in World War 2 may have actually been seen as justified by the reader, rather than an unjustified punishment.
Another reason the Robbie is presented in such detail is that this enables McEwan to present the extent of the tragedy of Robbie and Cecelia failing to be together, which some readers may argue is a transgression against the natural order of things. An example of McEwan presenting their compatibility is references to travelling; McEwan uses free indirect discourse to portray Robbie realising that Cecelia will soon be 'gone'- an idea that Cecelia had previously been presented as thinking about during McEwan's earlier focalisation through her. Similarly, this chapter contains references Robbie's own plans to travel, such as the imagery of his maps.
McEwan presents Robbie as a victim of class.How far do you agree?
In terms of Robbie's position in the macrocosm, McEwan does present him as at all vicitimised by his class. Despite his status as working class, Robbie is presented as highly intelligent and culture through references to cultural movements such as the Fauvists, and numerous poets as well as the work f Shakespeare, The latter provides the reader with an interesting point of comparison between Robbie and Paul Marshall: the upper classes were thought of as being more civililised and possessing a greater cultural capital than the working class, yet is is Robbie who has the knowledge of Shakesperian literature to compare himself to one of the character, whereas Paul Marshall was previously presented as pretending to know all about Hamlet. Moreover, Robbie's class is not presented as limiting his education. In addition to his cultural knowledge, Robbie is presented as being socially mobile if Briony had not committed her crime, the job Robbie would have pursued as a doctor would have led to him possessing the status of middle class.
By way of contrast, it is hard to dispute the fact if Robbie was of the same class as Cecelia, he would have been accepted into the family and perhaps even been encouraged as a potential match for her. If it were not for McEwan's portrayal of him working class, This means that Cecelia and Robbie's relationship could have been presented as public knowledge, meaning that the Tallis family would have perhaps been presented as having a closer relationship with Robbie; Briony's knowledge of his character would have prevented her from seeing him as a threat. Also, Cecelia and Robbie's relationship would not need to be developed so furtively; Robbie would not have had to send the note by way of communication, meaning that there would be no 'evidence' of for the allegations made towards him. In terms of the microcosm, Robbie is a victim of Briony's crime. If he was presented as part of the upper class, this would probably not have occurred.
Another supporting argument for Robbie being a victim of his class is the contribution of negative working class stereotypes in the macrocosm, moreover the idea of working class males being society's idea of what a criminals. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, it is unlikely he would the Tallis family would even consider the possibility of him being a rapist; like Marhsall, he would be immune. Robbie is therefore presented as a victim of the stereotypes held by the upper class. Evidence for this class bias is presented by McEwan when he mentions how Cecelia immediately accuses Danny Hardman of assault when the police arrive. In addition, Robbie is also presented as believing Danny Hardman to be the criminal when Briony goes to visit Cecelia at the end of the novel.
Overall, McEwab intially presented Robbie as a victim of Briony's imagination; her imagining him as a threat is what leads to her assuming he was the criminal, and subsequently accusing him. However, she is presented as making this accusation largely due to her disapproval of his secret relationship with Cecelia: which would have been accepted and public if Robbie were not working class. Futhermore, Robbie is presented a victim of the legal system's unjust punishment. If Robbie had been presented as upper class, he would not be believed to be a criminal in the first place, meaning he would not have been a victim of class bias, nor the horrific experiences of war.
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