The Significance of Secondary Characters

Rowena Ross

The rabbit symbolizes a “generation’s loss of innocence” 

Rowena is Robert’s older sister. She is a hydrocephalic “which in plain language means she was born with water on the brain” (Findley 7). I looked up the “hydrocephalic” condition and it basically means that she has an adult sized head but a body of a ten-year-old. She is unable to walk and thus uses a wheel chair. At the beginning of the novel, she is introduced as a sympathetic character that Robert becomes closely associated with and he acts as her guardian. Rowena is “never in photographs that are apt to be seen by the public. In fact, “she is not much admitted into the presence of a camera” (6). Rowena is not seen in pictures as she is portrayed as a character that veers from the norms of society. Sympathy is further evoked for her when she fell out of her wheel chair in their barn resulting in her demise after attempting to play with a rabbit. Robert feels a sense of guilt as he blames his own behaviours and absence for her loss. Despite her demise, Rowena is symbolically presented as the image of the rabbit throughout the novel. The rabbit symbolizes a “generation’s loss of innocence” which parallels the severe conditions of the war. Similar to what Ridwaanah mentioned in one of her posts, the rabbit like Rowena is small, fragile and evokes love. The constant reference to rabbits such as “the rabbit disappearing out of the corner of his eye” constantly evokes feelings of guilt from Robert, who feels responsible for his sister’s death. It is only when “Robert burned [Rowena’s picture] in the middle of the floor” (195) was he able to escape his guilt. By burning the picture, he attempts to erase the memory of his beloved sister’s death.

Eugene Taffler:

Eugene Taffler is presented as the war “hero” who’s “been to France”, was “wounded”, and then “returned to Canada” (30). Robert also presents him as the ideal image of masculinity. Taffler is commonly associated with the image of a dog that is loyal to his people. “Taffler was just a dot on the horizon. Dots were anonymous.” (32). Through this comment, Findley  presents the individual men who served in the war as anonymous figures that changed the lives of millions but in the end they are rendered as  insignificant. Taffler’s character commonly shifts throughout the novel and this shift is associated with the condition of his arm. At the beginning of the novel, he is heroic and strong which is presented though his ability to play the game of “hitting bottles” off of posts with stones which requires accuracy and strength; however, when he loses his arm, he believes that he is no longer the heroic figure and attempts suicide in part 4 of the novel by rubbing his stubs against the wall, but is stopped by Lady Juliet d’Orsey. Findley satirizes men through Taffler’s character as he shows the stages of degradation men experience. Throughout the novel, Taffler is also portrayed as a complex character as readers do not know whether to sympathize with his devastating condition of losing his arm or regard him with antipathy as he pays for homosexual relationships while pursing a relationship with Barbara d’Orsey.

Harris:

Harris is a soldier who Robert meets in the ship’s infirmary. Robert attempts to care for him when he is ill and the two become friends. Through his character, sympathy for Robert is evoked as he attempts to help an injured solider while revealing that “no one since Rowena had made Robert feel he wanted to be with them all the time.” (104). Through Harris’ narration in which he presents, “They aren’t any friendlier – the fish, you know. But they accept you there. As you might belong, if you wanted . It’s not like here. It’s not like here at all.”  (109), Findley presents the fish as a metaphor for Harris’ hope that society will accept him. Robert and Harris’s relationship ends in “ashes” as Taffler and Robert throw Harris’ ashes into the river. This foreshadows Robert’s death. 

Barbara d’Orsey

Barbara d’Orsey is Juliet’s older sister. Barbara is presented as the impulsive lover of Robert. Robert despite his full compassion for his sister was also “mostly interested in Barbara and Captain Taffler” (165). “[Barbara] wavered there quite a few moments and I [Juliet]  saw her put her hand out almost as far as his door but then she withdrew it and held it behind her back.” (168). Through this comment by her sister, Barbara “for as long as I [Juliet] can remember she had a taste for heroes and athletes.”(111). Her impulsive nature is evident through her fickle love life. Through her character, Findley presents the deception of females and their destructive powers in degrading male characters. It’s also through Rowena that Robert’s character is degraded as her memories taunt him throughout the novel. 

Why is the title "The Wars" Significant?

Is it the physical aspect?

So what is the significance of the title The Wars? 

The Wars in this novel are not only confined to the parameters of physical war, but Findley clinically presents to us the wars between humans and the natural elements, and ultimately the war between a man and himself as he seeks to find acceptance in a world that is crumbling all around him, the story of Robert Ross. The massive world war is an obvious reference in the novel. This is exemplified through the “houses, trees and fields of flax” which “once flourished here. Summers had been blue with flowers. Now it was a shallow sea of stinking gray from end to end. And this is where you fought the war.” (70). This symbolizes how thousands of innocent lives were taken, and how areas were forced to meet the fate of destruction, due to the war, causing it to be impossible to fix things back to what they were. The term “Wars” implies there is more than just one war – there are internal wars. One of the most significant “wars” is Mrs. Ross’ war against the pain of loss. Having to lose her daughter, Rowena as well as the thought of potentially losing Robert while he is serving overseas with the army, I believe, are truly heartbreaking moments.

The Element: Water

The title seems to be referring not to the actual physical combats that took place during the war but to the internal, psychological battles that took place in the minds of the soldiers who suffered from the effects of violence and inhumanity during the war. However, Findley is also successful in evoking the physical torment suffered by the soldiers in the trenches. Robert’s increasingly fragile frame of mind during the novel, and his difficulty in coming to terms with the world in which he finds himself, is indicative of this internal struggle. This struggle is also one that applies to those who remained behind on the home front and the families who made the ultimate sacrifices during the war. The title of the book gives insight into life as a general theme. There seems to be a constant battle, or a 'war' between destruction or death and life. This is evident throughout the novel with the rabbits, the horses on the boat, the death Robert witnesses at war, and at the end, his attempt to save the horses. I think the title can be applied in a literal sense to World War I; the title can also refer to Robert’s internal conflicts, and also apply to the general theme of war between life and death.  It is as if Robert is fighting the war for life, whether human, animal or both.  It’s a pretty interesting correlation between the title and theme. Robert becomes mentally unstable as his mind constantly attacks him with the guilt surrounding the death of his sister, Rowena. This mentally unstable state of Robert is also shown when he is ordered to kill the horse that had broken its leg.  After some hesitation, Robert finally shoots the horse continuously, until the horse is dead and until all his bullets are used up. Furthermore, Robert’s departure from his home town signals a significant change in his family, whose members particularly his mother and father – become isolated from their connective thread – Robert – who is no longer present.

The Element: fire

Moreover, The Wars illustrates what can happen to men and women whose destinies are determined by circumstances that are beyond their power and understanding. Ross is constantly at battle with his morals throughout the novel; he is at war with himself.  From the beginning of the novel, he debates with his feelings of guilt about Rowena and her rabbits. He is also battling with his morals when he is taken to the whorehouse.  He feels guilt, shame and embarrassment and doesn’t feel like he should be there. Robert is also in a war against the elements of nature in this book, the elements being: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water (does this ring a bell to those who take anthropology?). Robert falls into a sinkhole and barely pulls himself out, which is a test against earth and water. He and his troops are faced with a battle against the poisonous chlorine gas, which is a test against air. Lastly, Robert is burned by the fire engulfing the barn, which is a test against fire. Robert is left disfigured, which shows a transformation in his character as fire is the agent of transformation and regeneration.

Opening Remarks

Welcome to my blog! Now that I'm almost done reading the novel The Wars, I can post some useful interpretations which will help me when it comes to the exam in the end. I'm excited about this as this is my first time posting on my own personal blog. 

Here are some opening thoughts: 

The Wars, set during the historical period of World War One, revolves around the protagonist, Robert Ross’s, quest for self identity in a world gripped by the horrors of the Great War. What I found really intriguing was the way the story was narrated; the story is not told in chronological order but rather it seems to me like pieces of puzzles forming as the novel progresses. Each character explains particular events from their perspective.  The aspect of individual vs. society is a prominent theme in the novel, which specifically deals with the struggles of all individuals in the novel but in particular, the protagonist Robert Ross. Ross struggles with his sexuality, manhood, and heroism, all of which are uncovered by the end of his psychological quest. Findley’s post-modern techniques of narration of construction of plot allow the reader to undergo Ross’s journey with him, piecing together his collage of a life as he himself searches for his identity. His use of photographs, transcripts, and letters allows for no clear portrayal of Robert Ross, forcing interpretation. It is evident that Robert must face the challenges of war in order for him to gain insight by the end of the novel. Through the individualistic descriptions of the war, Findley parallels the individual’s struggle as a microcosm to social and political war, criticizing the restriction and destruction of war, which is ultimately a metaphor for society.  In my next post, I will be talking about how the title is significant in that it's not just restricted to the parameters of the physical aspects of the war.