The Wars - The Final Post

From reading 'The Wars', I can honestly admit that the novel had me on the edge of my seat. For the last 30 pages of the book or so, it had moments of sadness, happiness, and excitement. From what I can tell you, I have mixed feelings about all the actions and final plot details given near the end of the book because I would have given up reading it if it wasn't mandatory. But I'm glad I got to the end! It was enjoyable.

Chapter 4 Recap - The reader is introduced to radio transcripts/interviews by Juliet D'Orsey, the sister of Barbara D'Orsey. Juliet has intimate moments with Robert Ross and loves him so very dearly. Love and acceptance is a universal theme that obviously plays itself throughout the novel.

There are several intriguing plot twists that happen in the last chapter of this novel.

First of all, Robert Ross becomes a victim of rape. It is so tragic and the event is described in such detail that the reader cringes for Ross loses a sort of innocence as he is 'dirtied' up by possibly his fellow soldiers. It happens from pages 190 to 193.


"Someone struck him in the face. Robert began to pass out. He could feel himself being lifted into the air again and turned around and made to lie on his face with one man still underneath him and now with another on top. All he could feel was the shape of the man who entered him and the terrible strength of the force with which it was done. His assailants, who he'd thought were crazies, had been his fellow soldiers. Maybe even his brother officers. He'd never know. He never saw their faces.

The idea of homosexuality is brought up again near the end of the novel, and in my opinion, Findley just reinforces the general consensus that the army induces homosexuality which I find quite shocking.

After the rape, he cleans himself up and continues on his journey where he meets one of his young recruits, Officer Poole, on his way to continue as a senior rank. They both greet each other, however, Ross concludes that he "wished with all his heart that men could embrace. But he knew now they couldn't. Mustn't." (195) Men had a duty to live by, a code to enforce and this is what the military was. Friendship could not exist on a professional level.

Also, he burns the last picture of Rowena that he had but not in an act of anger, but rather in an act of charity once he is deported to go back to Canada after finishing his mission. I suppose he's letting go of the past to start a new future. (195) It is important to note that photographs and other medias are of importance in this novel because Findley uses these mediums as a method to record the past. As we know, having knowledge to the past enlightens the protagonist to understand a present predicament of some sort and this type of general idea can be reflected in Song of Solomon, where oral recall (the idea of myths and folklore and to a certain extent gossip) allows for enlightenment and freedom. I believe it was Milkman who underwent this transformation for once he understood his roots he was able to fly, fly away, fly home like a sugar daddy? I'm joking. But you get the idea. Enlightenment is a big deal in the literary world. To understand your roots is one thing, but to take that and change it to what you want to with your life is a whole other initiative that must be done by the individual.

In 'The Wars', the use of photos and other mediums allow for the reader to understand the present predicament that Robert Ross faced (WW1) that still resonates with humans today and this is where the difference lies. For example, the Second world war was a catastrophic disaster the world has ever seen; warfare of all sorts, extremism, and mass murder on a global scale were evident and the issue of who is to blame still remains a controversial issue today. The reader becomes enlightened and this is the ultimate goal of an author.

Robert survives a bomb attack (197)

Pages 201 to 203 truly reflects Ross' passion for the freedom of animals, which undoubtedly reflects Findley's concerns for animal rights. He disobeys a captain's command to let a band of horses die in a barnyard, fearing that if they escape the Germans will be able to use them to their advantage. Ross and another officer named Devlin go off to free the horses. Devlin gets shot by the captain, named Leather. Robert frees these horses, but then three bombshell comes out of nowhere and kills all the horses where the bomb lands, leaving Robert to be the sole survivor. Robert has a showdown with Leather where he shoots him right between the eyes. Robert has killed for the very first time, shocking! We see that Robert will stop at nothing to enforce the values he cherishes and those would be his fellow animals. However he goes on a rampage and kills some animals that are still alive, and "It took him half-an-hour to kill the mules and horses." (203) This is very strange bipolar behaviour.

Pages 204 to 205 reflect the complete mental breakdown of Mrs. Ross. Robert is declared missing in action and this truly brings sadness to not only the parents but the reader as well, for the ending line before this entry was, "He tore the lapels from his uniform and left the battlefield" (203) It was as if he was going to commit suicide or something. However, Robert is not dead yet, as the next entry indicates. It is important to note that the 16 of June is constantly referred to.  According to Wikipedia, not much happens on June 16th but the battle of Somme does happen on the first of July http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1916

Narrative Structure is circular in this chapter. The passage on page 207 reflects the prologue. It appears that right before, Robert's camp/battalion has been bombed and Robert appears to be the sole survivor! It makes sense now, tada!

Robert eventually dies of his burn wounds and is seen happily holding hands and smiling with Juliet D'Orsey, the only lady who's been with Robert and supported him throughout his journey. Mr. Ross is the only family member to attend his funeral.

"The spaces between the perceiver and the thing perceived can...be closed with a shout of recognition. One form of a shout is a shot. Nothing so completely verifies our perception of a thing as our killing of it.  (218)