“Every secret of the body was rendered up--bone risen through flesh, sacrilegious glimpses of an intestine or an optic nerve. From this new and intimate perspective, [Briony] learned a simple, obvious thing she had always known, and everyone knew: that a person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn, not easily mended.”
Analysis of Quote from Ian McEwan's "Atonement"
In this quote from Ian McEwan's "Atonement", the protagonist Briony is described as having a moment of realization about the fragility of the human body. The detailed and visceral description of anatomy serves as a metaphor for the vulnerability and impermanence of human life and relationships. This realization underscores a fundamental truth that Briony comes to understand: that human beings are mortal and delicate beings, capable of being broken and scarred. This quote highlights the theme of mortality and the consequences of actions in the novel.
Modern Relevance of Ian McEwan's Quote
In Ian McEwan's quote, he delves into the vulnerability of the human body and how easily it can be harmed. This theme of fragility and mortality remains relevant in modern times, especially with the ongoing discussions surrounding health, wellness, and the impact of the pandemic.
Example of Usage
In Ian McEwan's novel Atonement, the character Briony reflects on the fragility of the human body and the realization that we are all vulnerable to physical harm. This introspective moment sheds light on the simple truth that we are all made of flesh and bone, easily damaged and not always easily repaired.
Reflection Questions
Reflecting on the quote by Ian McEwan, consider the following questions:
- How does the idea of our physical vulnerability impact how we interact with others and ourselves?
- In what ways do we often overlook the fragility of our own bodies and that of others?
- How can acknowledging our physicality lead to a deeper understanding of empathy and compassion towards others?
- How does the concept of our bodies being "easily torn, not easily mended" affect our perceptions of permanence and impermanence in life?
Similar quotes
“From this new and intimate perspective, she learned a simple, obvious thing she had always known, and everyone knew; that a person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn, not easily mended.”
“A person is, among all else, a material thing, easily torn and not easily mended.”
“I knew that what I was seeking to discover was a thing I'd always known. That all courage was a form of constancy. That it was always himself that the coward abandoned first. After this all other betrayals came easily.”
“I was a new person then, I knew things I had not known before, I knew things that you can know only if you have been through what I had just been through.”
“Flesh, bodies, nerves, legs… things were getting all mixed up in his mind. It seemed to be filled with flesh, cloyed with the sweetish smell of flesh that is torn open and over which blood is pouring. It was his flesh, their flesh, lying about still alive, but dying, dying so slowly, dying so fast…”