The Importance Of Morality In Timothy Findley's The Wars

One who is righteous, pure, and ethical obtains a solid moral compass. A lack of morality in an individual results in insanity. This is shown in Timothy Findley’s The Wars; the war corrupts individual’s integrity which ultimately leads to their insanity. Robert Ross and Rodwell depict lunacy as war demoralizes them. As individuals receive commands that violate their virtues, as a repercussion a person will become irrational.

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

Battery Sergeant Major commands Robert to kill a horse on the S.S. Massanabie. “Robert thought of ways of avoiding what had to be done… He began to squeeze the trigger and he squeezed it again and again and again –so many times that when Sergeant -Major pulled him away the gun went right on clicking in his hands” (Findley 68). Participant from seminar one Nora states “This is very unlike Robert, he shares a connection with animals and it is not like him to kill a horse”. Robert’s integrity is corrupt as he joins the war, he is overkilling an animal which whom he shares a strong connection with. The war further demoralizes Robert, as Leather denies his insight to save the horses which pushes Robert to take matters into his own hands. “Robert went inside at one point to request of Captain Leather that he be allowed to take the horses and mules… Captain Leather was adamant in his refusal…All the horses and mules were either dead or were dying…It took him a half-an-hour to kill the mules and horses” (Findley 201-203). Robert loses his sense of sanity as his war strips his morals , resulting in him killing Captain Leather, Cassles and the horses War continues to fraudulently influence Robert’s ethic, as he kills Private Cassles. “Cassles went out –unarmed –to prevent Robert passing… Robert shot him in the face” (Findley 209). Robert shoots Cassles in a last stich effort to save the horses –and his virtue. As Cassles

Rodwell alike to Robert also obtains a strong bond for animals, which are a part of his nature. “They’re resting. They’ve all been injured. That’s his sort of hospital you see” (Findley 95). Rodwell deeply cares for animals as the novel depicts he nurses animals back to health. Seminar two participants state “Rodwell cares so deeply because it is in his nature to care for animals, like Robert”. Rodwell’s morals include ensuring the safety of animal life; this is shown as he aids the toads, birds, rabbits, and hedgehogs back to health. The war corrupts Rodwell’s moral as he is sent up the lines were he is encounters madmen. “When Rodwell arrived, he found them slaughtering rats and mice- burning them alive in their cooking fires. Rodwell, being Rodwell, had tried to stop them. They would not be stopped –and, seeing that he took interest, they’d forced him to watch the killing of a cat” (Findley 150). Soldiers compel Rodwell to observe their sadistic actions on a cat as a result going against Rodwell’s nature. Interference of Rodwell’s morals ultimately led to his insanity which urges him to commit suicide. “Rodwell had shot himself…they’d forced him watch the killing of a cat. Half an hour later, Rodwell wandered into No Man’s Land and put a bullet through his ears” (Findley 150). The war corrupts Rodwell’s integrity, by demanding he watch the killing of what he holds dear to him. This ultimately leads to his insanity,