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How Does Auden Poetry Makes Nothing Happen Essay

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Auden’s statement “Poetry makes nothing happen” reflects the idea that it is not the duty of writing to effect political or social change; as a result, the purpose of fiction is merely to let the reader see the world through the perspective of the writer. In Atonement, Briony seeks atonement for her actions; despite her greatest efforts, Briony’s novel is not an effective act of atonement because writing does not have the power to inflict the change she wishes to see.
Auden’s statement reflects the idea that it is not the duty of poetry to effect emotional, political or social change. In a negative sense, it suggests that writers and artists are incapable of creating change and rousing groups of people. In a positive light, it alludes …show more content…

What sense of hope or satisfaction could a reader draw from such an account? Who would want to believe that they never met again, never fulfilled their love? Who would want to believe that, except in the service of the bleakest realism? I couldn’t do it to them. (McEwan 350)
By doing this, Briony is in effect attempting to change history; the story that will survive is the one where Robbie and Cecilia live happily ever after rather than the bleak reality of the truth. Briony decides to immortalize them in a positive light because she wants the story of Robbie and Cecilia living happily ever after to be the truth:
No one will care what events and which individuals were misinterpreted to make a novel. I know there’s always a certain kind of reader who will be compelled to ask, But what really happened? The answer is simple: the lovers survive and flourish. As long as there is a single copy, a solitary typescript of my final draft, then my spontaneous, fortuitous sister and her medical prince survive to love. (McEwan

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