Coming of Age as a Writer

This document is the famous Magna Carta, which many other important documents in history have echoed. It gave free men a right to a fair trial and became a powerful symbol of liberty. Other documents I noted that were inspired by the Magna Carta, as seen in the British Library was the English Bill of Rights and the Laws of Pennsylvania. It is often stated that the Magna Carta helped form the foundation of english liberties. This document is one that has changed over time, such as Atonement.

During World War II, both the soldiers and civilians faced many hardships. In the novel, Atonement, Robbie battles many mental extremities that he endures throughout his time in service. The Imperial War Museum gave our group insight to how hard and troubling the war proved to be for those that were fighting and also to the families, many of which were split up as the kids were sent off to the countryside.

I found these facts to be very staggering, especially the last one. Most of the children during the war had no choice but to grow up, as they were on their own without their parents. This war was one that could be considered an equalizer, seeing that it did not matter whether you were of higher status/educated or not. All British citizens faced hard times during the war and it was a war that could not be won without everyone doing their part and helping out.

At the Florence Nightingale Museum, it was interesting to compare Florence to the character and writer, Briony. Both were shown to be very organized and determined in their works and in their character. Coming of age as a nurse, Florence defied social expectations by not marrying to instead work as a nurse and do something meaningful and important in her life. When other nurses were training at the Nightingale School, Florence was very adamant in regulating strict uniforms (shown in the image above) and behavior, to remain professional and not be distracting.

Florence many times was called, "Lady with the Lamp," as she led many nurses during the Crimean War and cared for many soldiers. She was very heroic in her ways by putting her heart and soul into her profession of being a nurse and was ambitious in her cause. It was interesting to expand upon the fact that Briony was a nurse under the Nightingale School during the time of World War II in the novel, Atonement.