Couples in Atonement.

On page 204 Robbie compares himself and Cecilia to the following literary couples:

1. Tristan & Isolde – A Celtic myth, made into a famous Wagner opera. Tragic story of adulterous love between Cornish prince Tristan and the Irish princess Isolde. Tristan is sent to Ireland to retrieve Isolde for his uncle, King Mark, but the two fall in love (in some tales due to a love potion) and carry on an adulterous affair. Eventually, Mark discovers their love and Tristan is exiled or killed.

2. Duke Orsino & Olivia (and Malvolio) – From Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Viola and Sebastian are twins, shipwrecked on an island and separated. Believing her twin to be dead, Viola disguises herself as him to protect herself. In this guise she falls in love with the Duke Orsino, who falls in love with the Countess Olivia, who, in turn, falls in love with Viola in disguise. Ultimately, Sebastian reappears, marries Olivia, Viola reveals herself and she and Orsino wed. In a subplot, Olivia’s steward, Malvolio, is led to believe that she loves him. He is made to look a fool and mocked by those who tricked him.

3. Troilus & Criseyde – Poem by Chaucer, which retells the myth set against the fall of Troy. Calchas abandons the city in favour of the Greeks, leaving his daughter Criseyde. Troilus, a warrior of Troy, is punished by the God of Love, by being struck by desire for Criseyde. The two fall in love, but Calchas persuades the Greeks to exchange a prisoner of war for his daughter. Troilus objects to this, but Criseyde persuades him that she will return in 10 days. She ultimately realises this is not possible and marries someone else. Troilus dies in battle.

4. Mr Knightley & Emma – From Jane Austen’s Emma. Emma is a rich, spoiled young woman who takes it upon to be a matchmaker for those around her, after the successful marriage of her governess. She attempts to marry her new friend, Harriet, with the vicar, Mr Elton, not realising that he is, in fact, interested in her, instead. Emma continues to mistake the affections and interests of those around her and only when Harriet claims to be in love with Mr Knightley, Emma’s neighbour and friend, that she realises her own feelings. Ultimately Mr Knightley and Emma wed.

5. Venus & Adonis – Poem by Shakespeare based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Adonis, the demi- god of beauty and desire, is seduced by Venus, the Roman Goddess of love. After they part he is killed in a hunting accident.

What do these choices say about Robbie? What do they say about his relationship with Cecilia?