We see the fountain scene in three different perspectives, from the eyes of young Briony and through Robbie and Cecilia. The scene takes place outside the Tallis estate, near a fountain where Cecilia is filling a vase with water. Robbie offers his help but mistakenly drops the vase causing it to shatter (McEwan 29). The vase had very sentimental value to the Tallis family and Cecilia is very angry with Robbie. Cecilia undresses in front of Robbie to enter the fountain and collect the broken pieces (McEwan 30). Briony sees the scene from her bedroom window and can only interpret the situation based on what she sees and not what she can hear. Briony is a 13-year-old girl, trying to understand the scene between Robbie and Cecilia from an adult point of view. With his lack of knowledge, he mistakes the scene for Robbie proposing to Cecilia and takes complete control over her, forcing her to take off her clothes (McEwan 39). Briony believed that Robbie had some sort of power over Cecilia; his interpretation stemmed from his Victorian era knowledge that men were superior to women (McEwan 38). However, for Cecilia and Robbie this scene is one where they try to figure out their relationship. Both have feelings for each other, but this is hidden by supposed hatred. Cecilia wanted to prove to Robbie that she didn't need him or his help, so she made sure to be the first one in the fountain to pick up the broken pieces, "withholding his help, and any chance of making amends, was her punishment," (McEwan 30). Robbie, however, had a different vision of the scene, he thought that the fact that Cecilia undressed was a form of humiliation towards him. Robbie had a hard time understanding that Cecilia…middle of the paper…is a sex maniac (McEwan 166). When the police question Briony, she tells them it was Robbie, “I know it was him” (McEwan 181). It seems that Briony has difficulty distinguishing between knowing and actually seeing. Briony didn't think twice that perhaps she had misinterpreted the entire relationship between Robbie and Cecilia, but instead jumped to the conclusion. Briony has used her freedom of expression too much to her advantage. He used his imagination to describe these events and write the story the way he hoped they would unfold. Briony was too young to understand the difference between reality and imagination and this led her to not consider the consequences of her actions. All that mattered to Briony was getting attention from those around her. Briony had committed a serious crime and her actions led to the innocent Robbie going to prison (McEwan 186).