In the structure of Robert and Rowena’s relationship, the author is attempting to reveal that Robert, more than anyone else in the novel, is able to look past Rowena’s physical deformity and see her inner beauty. In Robert’s burning of Rowena’s portrait “not out of anger but as an act of charity” (Findley, 195), the author is revealing that Robert respects Rowena and does not want her to be subjected to the cruelty of war. It also suggests that the image of the person Robert was when he knew Rowena no longer fits into his lifestyle during the war. Findley uses Robert’s difficulty in dealing with his sister’s death to reveal his sensitivity and his feelings of guilt. This is also witnessed in Robert’s disappointment in the deaths of many animals as well as the German soldier in the novel..
Findley uses rabbits to represent Rowena and Rodwell, both characters of pureness and compassion. Rowena is very much like her rabbits in that she is defenseless, innocent and dependent on others. When Rowena dies, her rabbits are killed for the simple reason that “they were hers” (17) and Robert is expected to kill them “because he loved her” (19).
These justifications seem rather weak to Robert, who wants his sister to still be alive in some form. If the rabbits were killed, it “would imply that Rowena would truly be dead” and Robert cannot accept this (“Animals and Their Significance” 1).
The Essay on Stick To His Ideals Robert Rowena Love
Many people say that the metal of a man is found in his ability to keep his ideals in spite of anything that life can through at you. If a man is found to have done these things he can be called a hero. Through a lifelong need to accept responsibility for all living things, Robert Ross defines his heroism by keeping faith with his ideals despite the betrayal, despair and tragedy he suffers ...
He promised Rowena that he would stay with her forever and that the rabbits would stay forever, too. He wants at least one of these promises to be kept. Unfortunately, a soldier is hired to kill the rabbits, and Robert fights him, yelling, “what are soldiers for?” (20).
It is ironic that he later becomes a soldier himself and he learns to kill as well. So Rowena’s rabbits are killed, “because a girl died, and her rabbits survived her” (20).
Robert Ross’ relationship with his sister, Rowena:
In developing the relationship between Robert and Rowena, Timothy Findley introduces Robert’s humane and sensitive characteristics. When Robert was young, he mistook Rowena for his mother because he often saw her smiling face peering down into his crib. To Robert, Rowena was a guardian, but eventually he considered himself her guardian. After Rowena’s death, Robert was lost within himself. He no longer knew how to behave or what to feel anymore. It was as though he could no longer handle or deal with serious matters or think clearly. Timothy Findley puts this forward as one of the main factors that push Robert to join the army because he could never forgive himself for his sister’s death. He felt as if it was his fault because he had not been there that day looking out for her as he usually did. He felt this guilt eating him inside for the rest of his life from that day forward. Robert reflects on specific moments they spent together throughout The Wars.
Robert?
Yes , Rowena?
Will you stay with me forever?
Yes Rowena.
Can the rabbits stay forever, too?
Yes Rowena.
This was forever. Now the rabbits had to be killed. (pg.22)
Robert is never able to forget this conversation and the fact that he broke this promise by not being there to catch her when she fell. This changed Robert’s whole perspective on life and his assigned role. He no longer appeared to have feelings anymore but no one knew how much remorse he felt inside. This could have been another reason for joining the war that he could just go away and everyone would either forget about what he did and be proud of in the end for being so brave. In a sense, a large part of Robert died that day along with his sister.
The Essay on The Fight for Equal Rights Black Soldiers in the Civil War
Black soldiers were among the bravest of those fighting in the Civil War. Both free Blacks in the Union army and escaped slaves from the South rushed to fight for their freedom and they fought with distinction in many major Civil War battles. Many whites thought Blacks could not be soldiers. They were slaves. They were inferior. Many thought that if Blacks could fight in the war it would make them ...
While attending Rowena’s funeral, Robert saw a soldier standing there and he envied this man so much because after this day he could just walk away and leave all of this behind. This is what Robert wanted to do and it turned out to be the worst way to run away from all his problems.
Rowena’s death constantly put stress on Robert, as we can see it hits him the hardest in the trenches or when he is on the battle field. Everything reminded him of his sister. One example was when Robert looked under Rodwell’s bunk, “Robert looked. There was a whole row of cages. Rowena” (pg.87).
As you can see Rowena was the first and only thing on his mind. Even the colour white would remind him of her because he could associate so many things since she was always dressed in white, her rabbits were white and her coffin was white. All of these memories haunted Robert more and more each day of his life.
Findley suggests in the latter part of The Wars that Robert is becoming mentally unstable. At times he can no longer function as a dedicated soldier or as a average human being. It is quite ironic that after Rowena’s death, Robert wanted to join the army where death loomed on every horizon . If Rowena had still been alive Robert probably would have never enlisted in the army and his life would of been quite good but he can not go back and change things or live in the past and this is what made his life even worse off.
