The epigraph from Austen's novel suggests that that her heroine's suspicions are unfounded, silly, and not likely to cause any kind of concern. This is a profound passage when applied to Atonement, because the heroine's suspicions in the latter were also unfounded and silly, but unfortunately, the effect of voicing her concerns in this case created "familial chaos and near-tragedy" (Slay Jr.)
Epigraphs are usually used to relate to the content of the literature following them and serve set the tone. Quoting from Northanger Abbey was McEwan's way of encouraging readers "to apply Henry Tilney's words to Atonement as well as to identify parallels between this novel and Austen's work" (Wells)
Cecilia questions why Robbie wants to be a doctor and he replies, "Look, I've agreed to pay your father back. That's the arrangement" (McEwan 25)
Love is considered an intangible experience that magically surfaces yet little interest is given to the external factors that impact how individuals engage in romantic relationships. At the mental and physical level, romantic love is a psychological process that encompasses "emotions, motivations, and behaviors" (Sternberg, and Weis 88)