Class Differences in Atonement

Class differences appear throughout the movie on numerous occasions.  The most popular and obvious example is the love shared between Robbie Turner and Cecilia Tallis.  Cecilia and Robbie are very much in love with each other, but this is disapproved by the Tallis' family because of the very obvious class difference between the two.  Cecilia is the daughter of Jack Tallis, a ministry-employed, wealthy man.  Where as Robbie Turner is the son of the Tallis charwoman.  The unequal social positions they are in cause tension between the two lovers but that is soon broken when Cecilia undresses in front of him by the fountain and when Robbie's explicit note is read by Cecilia.  Despite the love they have grown for each other, Emily Tallis (Cecilia's mother) disapproves of their love not only because of the obvious class difference between the two of them but also because Robbie is their servants son, he is proven to be father-less and she does not want her daughter to fall beneath her class, and therefore believes she is only trying to protect her.  Because of the class difference Robbie is misunderstood and perceived as 'good for nothing' or  'not good enough' for Cecilia Tallis.  Just because he lives in a small home with only his mother, and not in a huge estate such as the Tallis mansion, he is perceived as less of a person and not capable of taking care of Cecilia.  The class difference between the two lovers puts a toll on their relationship and puts them in the worst situation possible.

The Theme of Class in Atonement