World War One was seen as an opportunity for the Indigenous Peoples’ of Canada. During the First World War, there was a great amount of Indigenous who voluntarily signed themselves up to fight. It is believed that there were about 4 000 Indigenous who participated in this war. One-third of First Nations people in Canada age 18-45 enlisted during the war. (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.) They participated in all the major battles that Canada had fought in, unfortunately losing hundreds of their own men. Even the Indigenous women were willing to play key roles during the war. They were helpful on the home front and were also contributing by means such as fundraising. Although serving as very important characters during the war, when …show more content…
These men had volunteered to be part of the war, with their duty being snipers. The upbringing of a person affects how one may act/perform later in life. Hence, Xavier and Elijah’s upbringings help explain to the audience why they may have reacted in a certain way. Throughout the novel, it may be noticed that Xavier is more of the calm and reserved type of person whereas Elijah is perceived as a more energetic and loud person. Elijah was raised as an orphan in Moose factory by nuns at a residential school whereas Xavier for a large chunk of his childhood was raised by Niska his Aunt. As stated, these upbringings play keys roles in their decision making, responsibilities and fates. As the novel proceeds, the reader may note that the characters Xavier and Elijah in many ways expose the differences between them as the tyrannical realities of warfare become increasingly clear. Although from similar backgrounds, the contrast between them that had been presented has shown that warfare impacts ones psychological and physical …show more content…
Although today there are treatments to help soldiers heal from their traumatic stress, most soldiers would usually go to drugs to deal with their stress. Although drugs may feel right it can lead to addictions which can completely change you as a person.
Through Elijah’s progressive bloodlust and Xavier’s spiritual revulsion, it helps show the deterioration of their character and how it changes them for the worst, as they suffer from severe psychological effects. Due to Elijah’s progressive bloodlust, his psychological deterioration slowly gets the best of him. Seen early in the novel it’s stated “I can see that Elijah knows exactly what Thompson’s asking. Thompson is asking if Elijah likes killing. Elijah considers it for a moment. ‘It’s in my blood he finally says’.” (Boyden 75). This quote shows that the brutal eliminating of humans for Elijah is seen as more of an enjoyment. What this quote does is foreshadow the end result of Elijah becoming a windigo. As the novel proceeds, Elijah’s character deteriorates, as he becomes less and less affected morally by what he is committing. “He reminds himself that this just as easily could have been him lying there. He turns the dead man on his stomach and removes his sharpened skinning knife from its sheath and pulls the man’s hair back and removes his scalp…” (Boyden 210). This scene shows the point where
The years since the Battle of Vimy Ridge may have passed quickly, but the legacy of the Canadians whose accomplishments were great in that pivotal First World War battle lives on. Many people claim to this day that Canada came of age as a country on those hard April days in 1917. At first, through the meticulous planning of the battle, the world saw a nation capable of working together and making decisions as a team. Afterwards, with the range of technical and tactical innovations involved in the attack, the world saw a strong nation unafraid to protect and defend. In the end, through great sacrifice the world bore witness to the birth of the Canadian legacy.
World War 1 began in 1914, and because Great Britain was involved, Canada found itself pulled into the war as well. At the beginning of the war, Borden promised never to force men to fight. However, by 1916 the Allies found their situation had taken a turn for the worse, and were in desperate need of new soldiers. Canada’s Prime Minister, Robert Borden, was an imperialist. He desperately wanted Canada to be seen as an equal by Great Britain, and believed that providing large numbers of Canadian troops may accomplish this. However, as word of trench conditions and number of casualties reached home, fewer and fewer men were volunteering to be sent overseas, knowing that they would likely never return home. By 1917, Borden had only one unused
One would have to admit that World War One did give Canada a reputation and Canadians pride. Canada’s accomplishments in the war, notably the victory at Vimy Ridge and Canadian troops holding against the German attack in the Second Battle of the Ypres, not only gave Canadians a reason to be proud of their country, but also let other countries to see that Canada was a very helpful and useful. Also, Canada representing itself in signing the Treaty of Versailles increased Canadian pride and further showed Canada’s contribution to the war. However, this increased Canadian pride and reputation came at a heavy price. As
Battles such as Vimy Ridge, the Second Battle of Passchendaele and the Battle of the Somme were some of the worst battles that the world can find Canadian's. Our northern nation had boasted over 600,000 soldiers to the battlefields whilst also providing vital manufacturing facilities and training soldiers from across the world. The strong imperial bond between Canada and the 'Motherland' was an important factor in Canada's decision to participate wholeheartedly in World War I, and influenced many in their decision to join the army. Most Canadians felt a strong connection to the British Emp...
Canada also became a leader internationally as well. With such an enormous military contribution during the war, other countries began to recognize the success of Canada. People wanted to know more about Canada. Consequently, the war advanced Canada’s sense of identity.
I fear many things in this place. But I do not want to fear my friend.” (Boyden 246) This is a quote from Xavier, explaining his growing fear of his dear friend. Elijahs soul is tarnished and lost, and as the drugs take over his mind and body he loses any love he had left in him. Elijah grows to love to kill and no longer sees these dead bodies as people, rather as a score he must keep. Elijah’s mind has always been pulled in different directions and he never had a chance to create a sense of self. His only friend was reserved and incapable of saving Elijah, but perhaps no one could. In the end of the novel, when Xavier has decided to kill Elijah. I feel as though Niska’s strength is now within Xavier. He has an epiphany and knows what he must do and that it is the only way Elijah can be stopped. Throughout the novel it appears at times that maybe Elijah is the more self assured and Xavier, with his depression and falling in love is the more lost one. I believe this to be wrong, as confused as Xavier might be with his sadness and emotions, he is aware that this is not how life ought to be. He sees the wrong and he feels deeply. Elijah's mind is overtaken with anger and darkness and he knows not how to escape the demons. So much so, he becomes the thing he fears. In this novel we are made to believe that these three people are separate entities. I believe these three people make a
Canadians contributed in many ways to help our country's great efforts in the First World War. Canadians had literally the whole country and made enormous demands on the Canadian people, whether they were involved in the actual fighting or remained on the home front to work in industry or farming to support the war effort. Canada grew tremendously through the war as a nation, individually and emotional. Canadian troops had to be strong and responsible as they were always running from one front to another and had to be strong so that the little thing don’t bother them so they don’t become emotionally unstable, then could end there life. Strength played a major role through the war as did courage and every Canadian troop had those two components making them a strong army to attack against.
Similarly, Xavier and Elijah from Three Day Road go through a path of losing love and friends, eventually turning into enemies. To begin, Xavier and Elijah were quickly noticed by other comrades because of their hunting skills. Xavier and Elijah grew up with a native background where Xavier doesn’t see killing as an ordinary thing to do. This is seen when Xavier is being shot for the first time. He witnessed how close it was for him to be killed, responding, “The other side wants to kill me, and I’ve never even seen their faces” (Boyden, 33).
The episode of where Elijah teaches Xavier how to write in English in residential school and ends up getting in trouble with Sister Magdalene reminds me of when I used to help my classmates with math in elementary school and ended up getting in trouble for talking during the silent work
...madness out of him, Xavier says “You have gone mad. There is no coming back from where you have travelled” (370). Mental illness had contributed Elijah’s downfall becasue he could not think clearly on his priorities. Therefore, Elijah relies on killing Germans as his divinity to cure his illness but at the same time doesn’t realize he became a windigo that kills human beings for power. In conclusion, characters like Elijah who are affected by mental illness are suspected to show different symptoms and personality changes because they had lost all sense of ability to retain their human selves bust instead become bloody savages.
While Xavier is aware of the repercussions of his involvement in the war, Elijah increasingly overlooks that morality as the story progresses.
Due to the fact the lack food Elijah has gone insane and starts to consume human flesh, whom are known as a windgo. With starvation Elijah’s madness commences from the highness of his medicine causing him to take upon relentless actions. Where is best friend Xavier experiences his spirits, “The meat is gamy and a little tough.’ Is it a horse?’ I ask, pulling gristle from my mouth. Elijah smiles his wicked little boy smile.’ No. it Is human. German to be exact.”’(pg.310) Elijah is eating human meat for the only contentment for survival, turning himself into a windgo. Elijah has been eating many Fritz at the journey at war considering his friend Xavier will not notice at all but however Xavier mentions,” [Elijah] looks at me, a sad smile on his bloody face. He says something to me, something I can’t make out in the noise.” (pg.368) Leaving blood all over his face after a kill, is evident he instantly devours the dead’s flesh. Therefore, becoming a windgo is constructed under stress causing Elijah to become
There are many problems facing veterans that most civilians do not have to worry about. Perhaps the most serious issue facing many veterans is the post-traumatic stress that can haunt a soldier that has experienced the fear of being deployed to a combat zone. This is an issue that most individuals never have to worry about and having these post-traumatic experiences make most veterans more susceptible to substance abuse. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs website (ptsd.va.gov), “Almost one out of every 3 Veterans seeking treatment for SUD (substance abuse disorder) also has PTSD”. This is a startling number when you think about the high number of veterans that have been to war and have some level of post-traumatic stress. Also, we have learned from past conflicts that substance abuse and PTSD have been linked to an increase in suicidal behavior. In fact (Veteran Affairs, 2005) found that, “Veterans over the age of 65 with PTSD are at increased risk for attempted suicide if they also experie...
First of all, the military does not pay much attention on the mental health of the soldiers. When the soldier came back from the war, most of the soldiers would not be relax and
When someone has a condition such as PTSD they will be looking for ways to suppress or weaken the mental state from the horrific event. Many in this situation will turn to substance abuse to control or numb their anxiety and fears. PTSD for dummies stated “Between 60 and 80 percent of Vietnam vets seeking treatment for PTSD also have alcohol problems” (Kadem pg55). This thought control or numbing ritual also has a negative effect on the person life. Their problem is compounded; they now have PTSD and a forever viscous cycle of substance abuse to control their PTSD. When the substance abuse no longer numbs or controls the feelings some people will find no other relief except a life ending