“So... My sister and Robbie were never able to have the time together , they both so longed for, and deserved . And which, ever since, I've... Ever since I've always felt I prevented . But what sense of hope, or satisfaction, could a reader derive from an ending like that ? So, in the book, I wanted to give Robbie and Cecilia what they lost out on in life. I'd like to think this isn't weakness or evasion, but a final act of kindness. I gave them their happiness.”最后老年Briony在采访时的一番肺腑之言揭开了小说与现实之间结局的差别,又好像是为这场误人一生的悲剧在几十年后做一个最终的注解,这样的结局不完满但接近完美。怎么样才能获得赎罪呢?这世上没有一个人,没有一种实体或更高的形式是她能吁求的,是可以与之和解的,或是会宽恕他的。在她身外,什么也不存在。在她的想象中,她已经划定了界限,规定了条件。上帝也好,小说家也罢,是没有赎罪可言的,即便他们是无神论者亦然。这永远是一项无法完成的任务。然而在小说中,让有情人终成眷属,绝不是怯弱或逃避,而是最后的一大善行,是对遗忘和绝望的抗衡。Robbie和Cecilia依然活着依然相爱——这不是不可能的。