"The Wars", by Timothy Findley, is a novel depicting Robert Ross's horrific experience and eventual death during the First World War. It contains in depth details about Robert's life and the war, and really shows how terrible war really is. Is there any conflict that can justify war? Given he nature of "The Wars", Findley is strongly against war as a solution to anything.
             All throughout the novel, Findley adds many gruesome details on how brutal war was in the trenches. The living conditions where inhumane; "...asleep in the mud like Poole, who was lying on a shelf cut into the earth. His pillow was a rubber boot he'd stuffed with socks." (Pg. 101) Findley also includes many graphic details, which help reinforce the true nature of war. "They severed the driver's head from his body and his arms went up as if to catch it." (Pg. 197) "In places the ditches were literally piled with corpses and carcasses to a height above the level of the road." (Pg. 198) With all these awful images of war, Findley feels war isn't an alternative to anything.
             Findley makes it clear that nothing can be worse than the physical and emotional trauma people endure during a time of war. Robert is devastated having watched most of his friends die, some right in front of his face. "Thank you, he said. And died. Like that. Robert went away and walked in the snow. He didn't know what to do." (Pg. 117) The terror of war changed Robert from someone who could barely even bring himself to shoot a horse with a broken leg, to someone who threatens to kill his fellow troops over the protection of his gas mask. "...he managed to get the automatic out of his pocket and using both hands he pointed it straight at Bates. 'Tell them to back off', he said; 'or by Jesus I'll fire!'" (Pg. 138) Near the end of the war, Ro...