The Wars Timothy Findley Loss Of Innocence

ichael Zovak

Mrs. Fox-Comery

ENG 4U1

June 5, 2015

A Battle for Innocence in Timothy Findley’s The Wars

The Wars by Timothy Findley is an anti-war novel set during the First World War. The novel follows Robert Ross, a Canadian military officer, as he suffers through the horrors of the war both on and off the battlefield. As the novel progresses, Robert evolves from an innocent young man to a deeply troubled and broken individual. This loss of innocence plays a great role in Robert’s development as a character and is highlighted by his experiences with sex and death, experiences that eventually leads to his downfall.

In the beginning of the novel, Robert Ross is revealed to be a virgin, virginity being a timeless

Robert lashes out because his mind “was challenged by something it could not accept” (40), a reaction Robert has later in the novel as well. In the early twentieth century, homosexuals were looked down upon by society and the thought of gay sex was appalling to most people, so Robert’s reaction when initially exposed to it is understandable. In this event, Robert is exposed to new ideas and feelings and realizes that with his profession he can no longer live the sheltered life he is accustomed to. Much later in the story, Robert is far more mature and is finally comfortable around women. Having already witnessed the horrors of the war, Robert is a different man. One of the final steps towards his maturity is his successful sexual encounter with Barbara d’Orsey. The encounter is described by the young Juliet d’Orsey who, like Robert had once thought, believes the two are hurting one another. Juliet believes “that Robert must be trying to kill her” (160). While Robert has lost most of his childhood innocence and become a man, Juliet is affected in the same way Robert was upon seeing Taffler in the brothel. Despite his successful encounter, Robert has one final sexual experience that ultimately pushes him to the edge of his sanity.

Very early in the novel, Robert’s sister Rowena dies from a fall. Robert takes this accident personally, believing “It was Robert’s fault. Robert was her guardian” (16). Although Robert could have done nothing to prevent Rowena’s death, he takes it very personally and isolates himself from his family. The situation is made worse when his mother demands Robert kill his sister’s pet rabbits simply “Because a girl had died – and her rabbits had outlived her” (21). Although Robert does not kill the rabbits personally, they are killed regardless. Rowena’s rabbits rely on Robert to protect them, much like she relied on him, enhancing Robert’s sense of failure. This initial experience with death causes Robert to escape his previous life by joining the war, an unwise decision considering his initial reaction to death and violence. A similar event occurs while Robert is travelling across the Atlantic Ocean when he is told “one of them horses of yours has gone and broke its leg” (57). Robert is told that he must shoot the horse because “an officer had to do it. They were the only ones with guns” (57). Unlike the killing of the rabbits, Robert is required to kill the horse by himself. Robert displays a strong connection with animals throughout the novel and is appalled at the thought of killing