The Uninvited Timothy Findley Analysis

Both the poem, “The Uninvited” by Dorothy Livesay, and The Wars by Timothy Findley share a common theme of a haunting past. Both works illustrate the fact that past experiences have an evocative effect on one’s character, relationships, and decisions. In both works, the protagonist is met with a past experience that haunts them as they go about their everyday trials and tribulations, and this has a profound effect on their character, decision making, and ability to form relationships. In “The Uninvited” the anonymous narrator appears to be walking through a forested area in the winter with a partner. The narrator appears to be having a good time. However, the reader realizes that inside the narrator’s head, there are past experiences and events

However, the narrator is burdened by his or her past experiences and is distracted from their current partner as a result. Furthermore, in The Wars we are met with a less metaphorical representation of memories having an evocative effect on the life of Robert Ross. Early in the novel, we learn that Robert lost his sister, to whom he was incredibly close: “Jesus. She fell. It was Sunday. Robert wasn’t there. She died on the Monday, never regaining consciousness.” (Findley 21) The death of his sister, Rowena causes him to suffer from constant flashbacks and horrid memories of her death while dealing with the tribulations of the war. Throughout the development of his gentle, innocent character into the epitome of a wartime officer and courageous veteran, Robert faces many antagonizing events which are made worse by the constant reminder of his sister’s death; a past experience which has an evocative