Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement

Atonement, perhaps Ian McEwan’s best-known novel, is considered an epic of British postmodernist literature because it touches on a variety of contemporary topics. Although Atonement focuses primarily on themes such as love and repentance, it also deals with social class, status, and power, which ar...

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Main Author: Vasko Talevski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Blaže Koneski Faculty of Philology 2020-06-01
Series:Journal of Contemporary Philology
Subjects:
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author Vasko Talevski
author_facet Vasko Talevski
author_sort Vasko Talevski
collection DOAJ
description Atonement, perhaps Ian McEwan’s best-known novel, is considered an epic of British postmodernist literature because it touches on a variety of contemporary topics. Although Atonement focuses primarily on themes such as love and repentance, it also deals with social class, status, and power, which are analysed in this paper. Furthermore, social stratification and inequality form the crux of this analysis. Using Max Weber’s theory of social stratification, and the characters as examples, this research considers how much social division truly exists in the novel, which serves as a mirror to British society. Moreover, various forms of social mobility are examined, as well as the solutions to those problems which are not only present in fiction, but also in reality. Ian McEwan’s Atonement talks about these issues and more, he sets problems and poses questions that challenge our lives’ perspectives, hence making it a unique literary gem.
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spelling doaj.art-f369864ab14d420881ae2139c8be43dd2022-12-22T00:51:43ZengSs. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Blaže Koneski Faculty of PhilologyJournal of Contemporary Philology2545-47652545-47732020-06-0131151162https://doi.org/10.37834/JCP2030151tClass and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s AtonementVasko Talevski0Center for Foreign Languages Filos, SkopjeAtonement, perhaps Ian McEwan’s best-known novel, is considered an epic of British postmodernist literature because it touches on a variety of contemporary topics. Although Atonement focuses primarily on themes such as love and repentance, it also deals with social class, status, and power, which are analysed in this paper. Furthermore, social stratification and inequality form the crux of this analysis. Using Max Weber’s theory of social stratification, and the characters as examples, this research considers how much social division truly exists in the novel, which serves as a mirror to British society. Moreover, various forms of social mobility are examined, as well as the solutions to those problems which are not only present in fiction, but also in reality. Ian McEwan’s Atonement talks about these issues and more, he sets problems and poses questions that challenge our lives’ perspectives, hence making it a unique literary gem.social classstratificationinequalityatonementsociology
spellingShingle Vasko Talevski
Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
Journal of Contemporary Philology
social class
stratification
inequality
atonement
sociology
title Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
title_full Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
title_fullStr Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
title_full_unstemmed Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
title_short Class and social inequality in Ian Mcewan’s Atonement
title_sort class and social inequality in ian mcewan s atonement
topic social class
stratification
inequality
atonement
sociology
work_keys_str_mv AT vaskotalevski classandsocialinequalityinianmcewansatonement