How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Father was delighted that his daughter was acting like a regular girl, playing hostess and chatting to a young man. (3.50)
Briony repeatedly references this idea of a regular girl in comparison to her. What does she think regular means, and why doesn't she think it applies to her?
Quote #5
I mustn't get back to thinking of myself as princess, or wolfgirl. All the silly things I used to imagine. Stepmother was right. It doesn't matter that you look like a princess on the outside. You're a witch on the inside and nothing will change that. (3.88)
So Briony used to think of herself positively, which is good news. Would she still think that way if it hadn't been for her stepmother?
Quote #6
Could it be that I truly wanted to save Mr. Dreary? I doubted it, but I'd go. I hadn't the knack of only pretending to do as Father wished. Did I want to save Mr. Dreary? I'll never know. We witches don't go in for self-knowledge. (5.153)
Confused much? By saying she doesn't know herself or her intentions, Briony reveals that whatever identity she has built is not based on truth or introspection. Instead, Briony continually doubts and devalues herself.