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Self-Identity In The Wars And Regeneration

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The boundless pursuit of self-realization in The Wars and Regeneration
The establishment of one’s identity is dependent on both interpersonal and intrapersonal influences. Timothy Findley’s The Wars and Pat Barker’s Regeneration are two World War I novels that focalize on the theme of self-identity. Robert Ross, the protagonist in The Wars, is a young soldier who witnesses the incapacitating impacts of the war on his country and humanity. William Rivers, the protagonist in Regeneration, is a psychiatrist at Craiglockhart War Hospital who treats soldiers for their war-induced mental disorders. Despite their distinct roles in the war, Robert and Rivers have similar experiences that direct them to constantly reflect on their identity and place …show more content…

When Poole passes by Robert’s room to drop off his belongings at Asile Desole, Robert begs him to stay for a moment. As Poole is about to leave, Robert internalizes his misery in seeing him go: “Robert wished with all his heart that men could embrace. But he knew now they couldn’t…He wished that Poole would wave–but he didn’t” (Findley 179). Robert develops a special relationship with Poole and finds comfort in his presence. Moreover, he has the urge to express his feelings but is restricted by the societal expectation that men are supposed to suppress their emotions. Nonetheless, his plea for Poole to stay a while longer shows his progression in his journey to self-discovery, as he uncovers an irreplaceable …show more content…

In a conversation with Henry Head, Rivers recounts his encounter with a group of Islanders on his trip to the Solomon Islands. When he recalls that he felt a sense of freedom in their presence, Head asks, “Sexual freedom?” (Barker 242). Although Rivers does not provide a definite answer to this question, he remarks, “You know you’re walking around with a mask on, and you desperately want to take it off and you can’t because everybody else thinks it’s your face” (Barker 242). Head’s question and Rivers’s statement both point to the possibility that Rivers is gay. Furthermore, his fixation on the idea of hiding behind a mask signifies that he may be hiding his sexual identity to avoid societal rejection and disapproval. Regardless, Rivers develops an elevated sense of self-actualization as he becomes aware that he has been obscuring his

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