The Wars Timothy Findley Character Analysis

The relationships that Robert Ross encounters are significant because they contribute to personal growth and individuality. Timothy Findley’s “The Wars” depicts the protagonist sexuality through conflicts and carries out the plot by reflecting upon Roberts continuous mysterious relationships. His relationships between Ella, Captain Taffler and Harris are significant factors influencing Roberts’s attraction towards men and women. These relationships enable him to evolve from a sensitive 19-year-old to a mature young man.

Throughout the novel we notice that Robert is a shy young man who values his privacy vastly. He is additionally notably awkward around women he does not know or have just met. While Robert is training in Alberta, he is pressured
Abort the SS Masanbie Harris becomes very ill, Robert is sent to take his place in caring for the horses. Over time Harris and Robert become quite close exchanging stories and theory’s passing the time. When on land they are both sent to the infirmary for multiple reasons, Harris had a bad case of bronchitis that lead to pneumonia and Robert had severe burns. Robert spends a good amount of time near Harris bedside in the infirmary while they are both nursing there injuries. Even after Robert had healed, he would walk to and back from the hospital every day to keep Harris Company in his time of need. The connection between humans and animals is expressed by privet Harris when he reminisces about the sea and the wales. . When Harris was on the boat he would sit for long hours wishing to see a whale he explained “whales are something beautiful and free or should be”. Harris had a beautiful soul just like Robert whose beauty shows thought out the novel which is what shaped their friendship into a strong bond. Robert new Harris had no family, his mother died when he was three and he lived estranged from his father who coincidently was a fisherman. Harris, while dying talked endlessly about whales as if he was in a live dream swimming in the ocean. As he is dying he says, "Everyone who's born has come from the sea. Your mother's womb is just
At first its believed that Robert could be a homosexual by the way he described captain Taffler at the prairie. He described Taffler by “his mouth his eyes and his nipples looked as if someone had been sculpting him and had left their thumbprints behind”. Insinuating Robert had a little crush on Taffler but he was just someone who Robert perceived to be a role model. Roberts reaction to what he saw at the whore house made him very angry and act out in violence, foreshadowing violence to come. At first Robert doesn’t want to accept what he is seeing and is angry that someone he looked up to could do such a thing. Robert knowing the strict laws about homosexuality had developed a homophobia leading him to cease any thoughts regarding Taffler as a role mode. This book took place in a time where homosexuals were not allowed to join the army or even exist as it was an act of crime to be gay and Taffler was a national hero and was supposed to endorse moral characteristics. Robert is also scared that this might also happen to him, as the whore house is representing how much someone can be affected by war and how what they experience can change them completely. Aboard the SS Masanabie Roberts makes a friend named Harris, who like robert has a beautiful sole and cares for animals deeply. Seeing as Robert never