The Significance of the Rape Scene in Timothy Findley’s

The significance of the rape outlook in Timothy Findleys The Wars Ryan Moore Robert Ross, the protagonist of Timothy Findleys novel The Wars undergoes a disturbing violation when his fellow soldiers rape him this is a significant turning point for Roberts constitution and a section of the book Findley uses to address soldieryy themes. passim the book we witness Robert maturing and experiencing many an(prenominal) another(prenominal) hardships that will help make out the man he becomes. The most significant of these trials is the crack at the insane creation because it is where Robert looses the last connection to his innocence and his faith in military mans virtuousness.Findley besides uses this scene to address the topic of homophobia in that season, and the substantially prejudicious effect the First World War had on the fighting men of Roberts generation. Findley employs creative diction in the beginning of section cinque, chapter five of the novel, in order to sym bolize the fragmentation of Roberts pillow slip. Robert pieces together what has dear happened as he stands in the center of the room (175). Roberts minds atomic number 18 exposed from the following lines He precious a clean shirt He motiveed his pistol (175).The authors short, choppy sentences be representations of Roberts thought pattern. He is in a differentiate of shock, and his character is splintering as he tries to comprehend the violation that has just transpired. Findley creates fury in Roberts thoughts and actions by double spacing this part and kickoff each sentence with he followed by a verb He wanted, He looked, He pulled. As a reader, this writing technique makes us feel as if we are able to see into Roberts thoughts and be a part of the moment.This creates powerful imagery of Roberts damaged state of mind and draws perplexity to this section, which makes the reader consider that it is a very primal matter that also makes connections to other issues and the mes. A nonable observation of the scene where Robert wants to hug his friend Poole, but he knows that he must not because it would be inappropriate, is the issue of Homophobia that is touched on. This was very prevalent issue at this time and Findley uses this scene in tandem with the rape scene to create irony. Robert wished with all his heart that men could embrace (177).After what he has experienced he knew now they couldnt. Mustnt (177). The irony is that Robert doesnt want to be thought of as unusual while he is in fact more than normal than most people in the asylum, especially including his assailants, who are in fact very unusual. A potential reason the author draws attention to this topic of homophobia is because it could concord been an issue for him growing up as a gay man in the early 1900s, and he may have thought it needed to be addressed. The scene when Taffler and the Swede have fear in their eyes on page 40 also lends effectiveness to the theme of homophobia.Ro berts turning point begins when he cut offs his fool away of Rowena he has lost faith in humankind and does not want his storehouse of her to remain in such a perverse and saddle-sore world. The narrator describes Roberts violation as . . . being rolled and dumped front down on the stones (175). Robert discovers something important about his attackers when he realizes that his assailants . . . had been his fellow soldiers. maybe even his brother officers (175). Findley gives us some insight into Roberts thoughts when he describes him burning the photo, This was not an act of anger-but an act of charity (178).His assailants treat Robert wish a piece of trash once they are through with him and ease up him face down on the stones. The atrocious defilement Robert endures changes his opinion of humanity and after witnessing the hellish events of war, and realizing his attackers had been his fellow soldiers, Robert looses trust in mankinds goodness (175). When he receives his bel ongings and sees the photograph of his sister, Robert realizes that he doesnt her memory to exist in a place that has treated him so harshly and that her innocence does not belong in this world any longer.Robert decides to burn the picture to free Rowenas memory from the slightest association with the depravation mankind has change posture to in his eyes, and with it he is destroying the last link to his innocence. The rape scene is also very important because of the real conduct symbolism it represents. Findley uses the rape scene to acknowledge that the war has ravish Roberts generation of men who were machine-accessible with it. As Robert is assaulted his thoughts lead to Why? Robert kept thinking. Why? (174). The author hints at this theme in the following line . . . intravenous feeding hundred cardinal possibilities- all of those lives that would never be (169).Roberts thoughts of why reflect the thoughts of many North American men and women who had lost love ones duri ng the war. Findley believes that the war, and those who made it, raped Roberts entire generation of men and left damaged panic-struck victims and grieving relatives in their wake (gradesaver). Findley cleverly emphasizes the subtle metaphor of four hundred thousand possibilities by writing it at the end of the chapter (169). This externalize of speech is used to touch on one of the main themes of the book, which is the rebound of war for humanity and the lives it wastes.In conclusion the significance of the rape scene serves many purposes. Primarily it establishes the dramatic turning point for the protagonist, Robert Ross. He is required to quickly mature in order to fight his way through the war, and this event forces him to let go of his innocent past self and his memories of Rowena. Findleys character interactions that follow this scene and also occur in other separate of the book allude to the controversy of homophobia during this time, which may have been a reconcile of contempt for him.The author also uses this scene to address the real life topic of World War One and how he believes that the war mongers of the era have raped Robert Rosss generation of men by conscripting them to a ruthless and prolonged war. References Findley. Timothy. The Wars. Toronto Penguin, 1977. Print. The Wars Study Guide? Summary and Analysis of begin Five and Epilogue GradeSaver. Gradesaver, November 12, 2012. http//www. gradesaver. com/the-wars/study-guide/section6/.