The War Beyond the Battlefield Through the Eyes of Robert Ross Lauren Bevan 12th Grade

Timothy Findley’s, The Wars, is an intriguing novel that outlines the physical and internal battles of individuals during World War I. This novel focuses on the troubled life, the main character, Robert Ross, leads as he tries to escape his guilt for the death of his beloved sister Rowena. Robert enlists in the army and experiences the physical, psychological, and emotional hardships of war which alter the way he views himself and the world. The title, The Wars, is a metaphor for all these struggles. Findley uses these factors to demonstrate the different forms of war and how they negatively affect a human being like Robert Ross. Through the character of Robert Ross, Findley highlights the plurality of war while reinforcing the idea that war is not only fought on the front lines.

The title of the novel focuses on the physical battle that Robert and many of the soldiers face during their time at war. Throughout the novel, Robert experiences physical setbacks due to the weather conditions where he is stationed. These extremely cold and muddy conditions risk Robert’s life on many occasions. For example, Robert has his first near-death experience when he almost drowns in the dike. This event physically challenges Robert, forcing...