Blurred Perception: Briony Tallis' Misunderstanding, Misinterpretation, and Destruction in Atonement (2007) through Sigmund Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory
Abstract
This study examines how Briony Tallis' misunderstanding of the relationship between Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner develops into misinterpretation and ultimately leads to destruction in Joe Wright's Atonement (2007). Using a descriptive qualitative method, the research applies Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory as elaborated in Albertine Minderop's Psikologi Sastra, focusing on the defense mechanisms of repression, projection, and rationalization, the notion of psychological conflict, and the classification of emotions such as guilt, self-punishment, shame, and sadness. The framework is used to trace the unconscious psychological processes that shape Briony's perception and drive her toward a false accusation with irreversible consequences for the people around her. This article presents the theoretical and methodological foundation of the study together with an initial findings and discussion section tracing this psychological process through four key scenes; precise scene timestamps and short verbatim quotations remain to be finalized in a subsequent stage of the research following a dedicated re-viewing of the film. The study is expected to contribute to literary studies by showing how a psychoanalytic reading can explain the process through which a character's inner conflict transforms into a larger narrative of misinterpretation and destruction
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