Vol. 4, Issue 2, Part A (2022)

This paper explores the concept of intertextuality in L. P. Hartley’s The Go-Between and Ian McEwan’s Atonement, focusing on how both novels engage in a dialogic relationship with each other and with literary traditions. Through an analysis of themes such as memory, guilt, and the manipulation of time, the study examines how McEwan’s Atonement draws on Hartley’s narrative structure and themes while simultaneously offering a modern reinterpretation of similar concepts. The research highlights the intertextual connections between the two works, exploring how each author uses literary techniques to shape the reader's understanding of the characters’ moral dilemmas and the consequences of their actions. By considering these novels within the framework of intertextuality, the paper discusses the implications of their shared motifs, narrative complexity, and their reflection on the role of storytelling in shaping historical and personal truth.