Robbie writes Cecilia a sexually explicit love letter that she never should have read. How do the events that result from this letter compare with the romantic ideals of love as harbored by young Briony in her play?

Briony is young and impressionable. She is jealous of Cecilia and Robbie. She tells a lie because of her disgust at the language in the letter. This lie is in deep contrast to the innocence of the 13-year-old who wrote the play.