Animal Imagery In Timothy Findley's The Wars
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The abundant animal imagery in Timothy Findley's book The Wars is used to develop characterization and theme. The protagonist, Robert Ross, has a deep connection with animals that reflects his personality and the situations that he faces. This link between Robert and the animals shows the reader that human nature is not much different than animal nature.
The animals in this story are closely related to the characters, especially the character of Robert. Rodwell acknowledges Robert's close union with animals when he draws Robert in his sketchbook as "the only human form" among sketches of animals (155). When Robert sees the drawing, he notices that "the shading [is] not quite human"; it is a combination of animal and human qualities, like Robert's own personality (155). "Modified and mutated, he [is] one with the others" (155). Rodwell's sketchbook reveals the melding of Robert with the animal world.
Robert's encounter with the coyote is a significant step in his understanding of animals and, in turn, this leads to a greater understanding of himself. For Robert to be a soldier, it is important for him to see the point of view of a hunter. He learns from the coyote that a hunter must be generous and kill only in order to survive ("Animals and Their Significance" 1). Robert follows the coyote and watches as it passes two gophers and does not even "pause to scuffle the burrows or even sniff at them. It just [goes] right on trotting--forward towards its goal" (26). The coyote seems to sense Robert's connection with animals and realizes that he is not a threat. This is why the coyote continues to let Robert follow behind when it knows he is there. They drink together at the river, enjoying a "special communion" (Pirie 73). Then the animal tries to communicate with Robert by barking at him, "telling Robert the valley [is] vacant: safe" and then barks another three times to announce its departure (28). When Robert returns to the base, he pays the price for his time with the coyote and is confined to the barracks, but the experience has a profound impact on him. In his confinement, he feels as if the coyote has become a part of him, and he wishes "that someone would howl" (28).
Robert also has a special relationship with horses. When he is on the ship, it is the horses that are "his tr...
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...aks of the sea. According to Harris, the sea is the element that bonds humans and animals together. He explains:
Everyone who's born has come from the sea. Your mother's womb is just a sea in small. And birds come of seas in eggs. Horses lie in the sea before they're born. The placenta is the sea. And your blood is the sea continued in your veins. We are the ocean--walking on the land. (117)
Robert does not agree with Harris' idea that humans evolved from animals, "he believe[s] that everything [is] as it [is]" and that "we were always men" (116). It is somewhat of a paradox that he takes this point of view considering that his link with animals is unusually strong. The notion that all living creatures are connected by the sea explains the close relationship between humans and animals in this novel.
Findley uses animal imagery in The Wars as a powerful method of revealing important aspects of personality in the protagonist and other characters. He weaves the characteristics of Robert and those of the animals he encounters in the story. This animal imagery and the character development of Robert is used to express the story's theme of humanity's similarity to animals.
The use of personification by the author displays the animal’s likeness to humans and therefore further aids to establish the future bond between the two, somewhat foreshadowing the ending to the story, where the humans inherited their somewhat slanted eyes from the coyote. This personification also gives depth to the animal characters, such as coyote’s laziness, or mole’s hotheadedness toward coyote and he hardworking personality. Personification like the
Robert’s bond with the animals starts prior to the war with the coyote in the beginning of the novel as he first discovers the harmlessness of nature and animals. Robert ran outside one night and saw a coyote; he thought
Throughout the book, it is shown that Robert has a special connection with animals and the environment. The many animals he encounters throughout the story are symbols which reflect on him and his actions. After Robert accidentally kills the German sniper who spared the life of him and his men, he feels guilty for taking an innocent life. This is reflected in nature by the bird which “sang and sang and sang, till Robert rose and walked away. The sound of it would haunt him to the day he died.” (Findley 131) This scene uses the readers’ knowledge of Robert’s deep emotional connections with animals to emphasize the sadness and guilt that he felt after shooting the German. Robert is often shown as innocent and caring, traits he shares with animals. Rodwell realizes this and draws a picture of Robert in his sketchbook (otherwise full of animal sketches), although “the shading was not quite human” (Findley 138). In the sketch, Rodwell is able to show both the human and non-human side of Robert. Finally, Robert’s strong love for Rowena, his sister, is mainly because of her innocence. As a result of her disability, she is innocent and naïve like a child or animal; she relies on Robert to be “her guardian” (Findley 10)....
ultimately defends the wild in all of its forms. He opens the novel with a narrative story about a
Throughout the book, Robert develops a bond with the animals as he lacks connections with the everyday people in his life. Robert’s natural instinct to save but failure to do so is portrayed with horses: “I’m going to break ranks and save ...
T.H. White’s novel, “The Sword in the Stone,” took place in the Middle Ages, when feudalism was the dominant political structure and knighthood held a high prestige. Thus, White wrote the novel stemming from the theme of warfare. However, he combined the themes of Medieval warfare with the contemporary warfare of the early-to-mid 20th century, the time period in which the novel was written. As a result, the historical allegories can be drawn between episodes in the book and warfare in the 20th century, especially World War 2. The episodes of the pike and the ants reflect totalitarian, fascist, and communist views, respectively in that order, whereas the geese serves as a society absent of violence, therefore demonstrating White’s pacifist values
Even when Jim is in this awful war-stricken place, one thing that he can still find comfort in, and which reminds him of his peaceful home is the birds, which are everywhere, still living their lives unaffected by mans war. This shows how nature is unaltered by mans cruel antics against other man, and how life and nature must, and will go on through all circumstances.
...interracial relationships. However because of the way he acts when he hears about the two of them, it is obvious that he has led a sheltered life. But even after his entire life of not understanding what was going on in the world around him, one night with Robert enlightened him and changed his view on people and his surrounding environment.
...n rabbits, Robert’s sense of protection is perceived in the presence of birds and his wild edge is from the coyote. This is an indication that animals and human beings are essentially one being, struggling for survival within a harsh world.
Jack London’s use of an animal’s perspective allows the readers to fully understand how the harsh landscapes of the Klondike influenced the individual; this strategy exemplifies the naturalism evident among many of his works. For example, in London’s The Call of the Wild, the environmental conditions that occur shape the main character’s destiny and his inability to control these changes. The protagonist is a dog named Buck who is forced to adapt to the austere conditions of the Yukon after being stolen from his pampered life in civilization and sold to a sled team en route to the Klondike Gold Rush. This journey proves to be extremely difficult when Buck faces several obstacles, such as being beaten with a club and the fierce rivalry between him and the nefarious pack leader Spitz. “Yet, by following his instincts, Buck takes his readers to the deepest reaches of the mind…” (“London, Jack”). He cannot control his fate; ...
Robert Ross is a pure, righteous, ethical person in the beginning of the novel; he obtains a strong morality. Roberts’ integrity prevails when Mrs. Ross asks Robert to murder Rowena’s rabbits. “Why do the rabbits have to be killed? …I’ll take care of them. Please!!! Robert-control yourself. Silence. Who’s going to kill
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
Huston, A. C. (Ed.). (1994, August 26). Children in Poverty: Child Development and Public Policy. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Having been a first-hand observer of Robert for a long time I’ve seen other desirable virtues begin to emerge in him. He’s become quite entrepreneurial, and as a close friend of his I’ve been drawn into many of his wild schemes as an unwilling ally.
When reading this essay one will see a comparison between two books White Fang and Call Of The Wild. There will be three themes that the reader will be able to find in this essay that tie into both books. The three themes will be Determination, Curiosity, and Mistreatment.