How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph) or (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
Looking at the boys…she knew they could never understand her ambition. Forgiveness softened her tone. (1.1.22)
This is probably the first mention of forgiveness in the novel, and it's Briony forgiving Jackson and Pierrot, rather than anyone forgiving Briony. She's kind of condescending about it though, isn't she? She figures she can understand them but they can't understand her. If the novel is about forgiveness and compassion, this maybe isn't as great of a start as it looks at first.
Quote #2
She said, "Briony read it."
"Oh God. I'm sorry."
He had been about to conjure for her a private moment of exuberance [….] But this new element — the innocent child — put his lapse beyond mitigation. It would have been frivolous to go on. He could only repeat himself, this time in a whisper.
"I'm sorry…" (1.11.48-51)
Cecilia's telling Robbie that Briony read his X-rated note. Robbie's thinking his sin is unforgivable. He doesn't know from unforgivable sins, though. Briony, who remember is writing this novel, knows. That's irony, there, again.
Quote #3
Briony's immediate feeling was one of relief that the boys were safe. But as she looked at Robbie waiting calmly, she experienced a flash of outrage. Did he believe he could conceal his crime behind an apparent kindness, behind this show of being the good shepherd? This was surely a cynical attempt to win forgiveness for what could never be forgiven. (1.14.40)
That last sentence about it being a cynical attempt to win forgiveness for what could never be forgiven? You could argue that that's what Briony's novel is.