individual reacts to their circumstances will help them to break free” coincides with the individuals displayed in Ian McEwan’s 2001 novel “Atonement”, Gwen Harwood’s poem “Father and Child” and Stella Young’s TED Talk titled “I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much”. The above thesis is applicable to McEwan’s novel as highlighted through the portrayal of protagonist, Briony Tallis. In her bids to break free her acts of penance are of a egotistical nature. As a result, this inhibits her from wholly