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- Duignan, B. 2020. Postmodernism. In: Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/postmodernism-philosophy Date of Access: 24 July 2022.

- Barnett, M.E. 2018. Metafiction. https://mandyevebarnett.com/2018/04/09/genres-of-literature-meta-fiction/ Date of Access: 24 Jul. 2022.

- McEwan, I. 2007. Atonement. London, Great Britain: Vintage.

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Postmodernism and modern philosophy

Postmodernism is largely a reaction against the intellectual assumptions and values of the modern period in the history of Western philosophy (roughly, the 17th through the 19th century). Indeed, many of the doctrines characteristically associated with postmodernism can fairly be described as the straightforward denial of general philosophical viewpoints that were taken for granted during the 18th-century Enlightenment, though they were not unique to that period. The most important of these viewpoints are the following.

1. There is an objective natural reality, a reality whose existence and properties are logically independent of human beings-of their minds, their societies, their social practices, or their investigative techniques. Postmodernists dismiss this idea as a kind of naive realism. Such reality as there is, according to postmodernists, is a conceptual construct, an artifact of scientific practice and language. This point also applies to the investigation of past events by historians and to the description of social institutions, structures, or practices by social scientists.

2. The descriptive and explanatory statements of scientists and historians can, in principle, be objectively true or false. The postmodern denial of this viewpoint-which follows from the rejection of an objective natural reality-is sometimes expressed by saying that there is no such thing as Truth.

3. Through the use of reason and logic, and with the more specialized tools provided by science and technology, human beings are likely to change themselves and their societies for the better. It is reasonable to expect that future societies will be more humane, more just, more enlightened, and more prosperous than they are now. Postmodernists deny this Enlightenment faith in science and technology as instruments of human progress. Indeed, many postmodernists hold that the misguided (or unguided) pursuit of scientific and technological knowledge led to the development of technologies for killing on a massive scale in World War II. Some go so far as to say that science and technology-and even reason and logic-are inherently destructive and oppressive, because they have been used by evil people, especially during the 20th century, to destroy and oppress others.

4. Reason and logic are universally valid-i.e., their laws are the same for, or apply equally to, any thinker and any domain of knowledge. For postmodernists, reason and logic too are merely conceptual constructs and are therefore valid only within the established intellectual traditions in which they are used.

5. There is such a thing as human nature; it consists of faculties, aptitudes, or dispositions that are in some sense present in human beings at birth rather than learned or instilled through social forces. Postmodernists insist that all, or nearly all, aspects of human psychology are completely socially determined.

6. Language refers to and represents a reality outside itself. According to postmodernists, language is not such a "mirror of nature," as the American pragmatist philosopher Richard Rorty characterized the Enlightenment view. Inspired by the work of the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure, postmodernists claim that language is semantically self-contained, or self-referential: the meaning of a word is not a static thing in the world or even an idea in the mind but rather a range of contrasts and differences with the meanings of other words. Because meanings are in this sense functions of other meanings-which themselves are functions of other meanings, and so on-they are never fully "present" to the speaker or hearer but are endlessly "deferred." Self-reference characterizes not only natural languages but also the more specialized "discourses" of particular communities or traditions; such discourses are embedded in social practices and reflect the conceptual schemes and moral and intellectual values of the community or tradition in which they are used. The postmodern view of language and discourse is due largely to the French philosopher and literary theorist Jacques Derrida (1930-2004), the originator and leading practitioner of deconstruction.

7. Human beings can acquire knowledge about natural reality, and this knowledge can be justified ultimately on the basis of evidence or principles that are, or can be, known immediately, intuitively, or otherwise with certainty. Postmodernists reject philosophical foundationalism-the attempt, perhaps best exemplified by the 17th-century French philosopher René Descartes's dictum cogito, ergo sum ("I think, therefore I am"), to identify a foundation of certainty on which to build the edifice of empirical (including scientific) knowledge.

8. It is possible, at least in principle, to construct general theories that explain many aspects of the natural or social world within a given domain of knowledge-e.g., a general theory of human history, such as dialectical materialism. Furthermore, it should be a goal of scientific and historical research to construct such theories, even if they are never perfectly attainable in practice. Postmodernists dismiss this notion as a pipe dream and indeed as symptomatic of an unhealthy tendency within Enlightenment discourses to adopt "totalizing" systems of thought (as the French philosopher Emmanuel Lévinas called them) or grand "metanarratives" of human biological, historical, and social development (as the French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard claimed). These theories are pernicious not merely because they are false but because they effectively impose conformity on other perspectives or discourses, thereby oppressing, marginalizing, or silencing them. Derrida himself equated the theoretical tendency toward totality with totalitarianism.

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Postmodernism | Definition, Doctrines, & Facts

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Postmodernism, in contemporary Western philosophy, a late 20th-century movement characterized by broad skepticism, subjectivism, or relativism; a general suspicion of reason; and an acute sensitivity to the role of ideology in asserting and maintaining political and economic power.

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This metafiction focuses on 'truthfulness or inventiveness'. Even after the letter written to Briony from the publisher, she went on to discuss meeting with Robbie and Cecilia and how she can atone for her past sins (McEwan, 2007:315-349). This, in some way, insists that the story is still true even with the given evidence.

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This type of metafiction wants to find a type of metafiction in 'a critical way' (Barnett, 2018). In Atonement, this text is seen at the end of Briony, Cecilia and Robbie's meeting. At the bottom of the page, there are two lines which are 'BT', followed by 1999. The after that follows with 1999, London (McEwan, 2007:349-351). This is done with intent, to show the metafiction which is common with postmodern literature.

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This type of metafiction uses the text for readers to see the metafiction. According to Barnett (2018) it uses such 'elements within text to quote its own artificiality'. One such example is when the publisher Briony gave her draft of her book to wrote a letter rejecting, yet praising her book. In there, a fountain scene is mentioned. This same scene is seen in part 1 of the book, where they are at a fountain with pottery broken and a woman going into the fountain (McEwan, 2007:24-31). Text is used to show this metafiction but the reader should also pay close attention to this when reading.

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Here, three types will be named with examples. But first, why is Atonement a metafiction? Well, it is quite easy. Atonement had its subtle ways of acknowledging that it is fiction, with the end of the book confirming that the story is fiction and the story is a book written by Briony.

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1. Postmodern concepts: Rejection of objective reality.

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1. Postmodern concepts: Rejection of objective reality.

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Objective reality believes that there is a reality which does not take investigation, feelings and every day mind. Postmodernism rejects that belief and think it is a construct of science (Duignan, 2020). In Atonement, this objective reality is something used indirectly by Briony and the rest of the family, but Cecilia rejects that truth and uses logic and her mind to see the true reality. She even rejects her family when they blatantly believe a reality where there is no real and concrete evidence. This is also true about the book as a whole. We are made to believe that Cecilia and Robbie are alive and live happily ever after, but that is not true seeing as they both died. It is made clear in part three with the letter where the publisher mentions events like the fountain (McEwan, 2007:313). It is also hinted with Robbie's last ramblings, when he said 'Wake me before seven. I promise, you won't hear another word from me' (McEwan, 2007:265).

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2. Postmodern concepts: Rejection of science and technology as human progress.

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2. Postmodern concepts: Rejection of science and technology as human progress.

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Postmodernist reject the fact that the way to human progress is science or technology. Most feel this way because, as history has proven, it has been used for bad deeds (Duignan, 2020). This is evident in part of Atonement when Robbie was at Dunkirk. Here the full scale destruction of technology and the evil deeds of men are on display. People are violently killed and in part 3 with Briony as a nurse, we see that further with all the violent injuries (McEwan, 2007:191-318).

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3. Postmodern concepts: Reason and logic are conceptual constructs.

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3. Postmodern concepts: Reason and logic are conceptual constructs.

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To modernists, logic and reason is 'universal'. Postmodernists believe this is only suitable for 'established intellectual traditions' and is a 'conceptual construct' (Duignan, 2020). Briony tried to use logic and reason in a universal situation in part one. She thought that her built reason and logic methods are applicable without any evidence. This, in the end, was a mistake. She had a letter, which was written by mistake and intended for her sister, as her evidence. She ruined a life because she thought she had reason and logic (McEwan, 2007: 132-165).

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Three ways Postmodern elements were encompassed. 

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How postmodern elements are encompassed in Atonement.

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How postmodern elements are encompassed in Atonement.

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Three ways Postmodern elements were encompassed. 