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What Is The Theme Of The Wars By Timothy Findley

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There are many possible ways to analyze The Wars by Timothy Findley. For the purposes of this essay the critical approaches of psychoanalytical and archetypical have been used. Within these two critical approaches there are two main thesis's that apply to this text. The actions and inactions of the characters affect the outcome of the story, and Robert's gun is a symbol of his masculinity. Throughout this essay five sections of the novel are analyzed in order to prove these thesis's. These sections are; when Robert doesn't fight for Heather Lawson, when Robert shoots the horses on the boat, When Robert gives up his mask for someone else during the gas attack, when Robert is raped, and when Robert lets the horses loose at the end of the novel. …show more content…

A character named Tom Bryant is in love with Heather, and she tells Robert that she " think you ought to fight him." Robert decides not to fight Bryant, and Heather decides that she never wants to see Robert again. When making this decision Robert is being dominated by the id part of his subconscious. He is ruled by the id as he is not considering what society would have taught him, which would be to fight for her. Robert's decision to not fight for Heather Lawson leaves him open for a relationship with Barbara d'Orsey later in the book. If Robert had still been with Heather at the time he got together with Barbara it would have tarnished his hero quality, and ultimately the way he is perceived by the …show more content…

Due to the actions of Robert's assailants earlier in part five he is experiencing a state of shock where his mind is just trying to protect itself. Throughout this scene Robert is being controlled by the id part of his subconscious. His mind is giving in to his desires and not caring about what society would say about his actions and the way society would judge them. His decision to go against the army and let the horses free is ultimately what ends him up in the hospital instead of prison, where he does get to see people such as Juliet d'Orsey on a regular

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