Priam during his quest to Achilles comes to the realization that he hasnt been the best parent, and lacks that human connection that Somax has with his children. As Somax talks about his daughters dance, despite that Priam cannot mention a thing of this nature about his children and that saddens him. However, he is determined to retrieve the body of his beloved son and give him the afterlife he deserves as a way to atone for his sins. Moreover, in Atonement Briony tries to atone for her past sins of falsely accusing Robbie of rape by becoming a nurse during the war. This allows her to close off and erases her life turning her from Briony Tallis into Nurse Tallis.
In Maloufs Ransom Priams decision to change who he is and how he is remembered. From just another king to a hero wh
o went to extraordinary lengths to fetch his child. Priam isnt swayed by his sons concerns and believes that his being a father and trying to retrieve his sons dead body isnt something that tarnishes a legacy. If anything the legacy he wants to leave behind is that of a King who can go humbly, as a father and as a man, to his sons killer, and ask in the gods name, and in their sight, to be given back the body of his dead son. This shows that change is within reach but it wont alter the past just the future. On the other hand, Briony attempts to change however its just in her imagination as she envisions a scene in which she says Im sorry for the distress Ive caused you to Robbie and Cecilia but thats all it was a vision that doesnt change the past or the distress shes caused.