Unit 4 Sumative

Arqum Farrukh
Varistha Persad
ENG4U-04
November 25, 2019
Unit 4 Summative
Soldiers endure many hardships while at war, both physical and mental
side effects. The mentality to become a hero is what leads most soldiers to their
downfall. In the novel, The Wars by Timothy Findley, he brings forth a soldier
who is the main character and ultimately, he makes a judgment mistake which
leads to his destruction. The author lets the audience decide whether Robert
Ross, the main character is the protagonist or antagonist due to his actions.
Robert is analogous to many other personalities such as George Lucas in star
wars, Oedipus in Oedipus Rex and Romeo from Romeo and Juliet to name a
few.
Robert is presented as a tragic hero who has to be a savior, mental issues and
making a judgmental mistake.
A hero is someone who displays bravery. “I'd argue it's the willingness to
make a personal sacrifice for the benefit of others.” (What Makes A Hero, 2010)
This definition helps pin point exactly what society expects a hero to be. Robert
displayed this attribute when he enlisted in the military at the young age of 19.
Enlisting into the military is the ultimate personal sacrifice one can make because
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of the huge risk that comes along with doing such. They are willing to give it all
so that other people can live a better life. Robert gave away his life so that other
members of society have the chance to live a peaceful and better life. However,
one cannot ignore that Robert has had some setbacks in his time of being a
hero. “This person is fated by the Gods or by some supernatural force to doom
and destruction or at least to great suffering.”(Tragic Hero Definition) From this
definition it is evident that Robert Ross has had great suffering throughout his
life. In the novel, Robert had been tasked with killing a horse with a broken leg.
Robert “drew himself into a ball” (Findley, 60) this was his reaction to having to
kill an animal. The horse had a broken leg and was in sever pain but by killing it,
Robert would have aided it. Roberts’s morals and values played a big part and
stopped him from killing the animal because he knew it would be wrong to kill a
living animal. The amount of respect that Robert held for life was high so killing
an animal would go against that mind set and would be impossible for Robert to
do such a task. This incident showed how he was struggling to defeat his inner
morals to protect a life. This struggle is a type of suffering because no side was
right for his decision. On one side he could take the life of the horse and stop it’s
suffering but that would ruin his morals and his views on how all life should be
protected. Then if he let the horse live, he would be protecting his morals but
would put the horse in lifelong pain as the broken leg was hurting the horse. The
mental stigma lives on for Ross for which ever choice he makes.
A person that has to take physical and mental pain for an extended time is
classified as a tragic hero. Throughout his life Robert Ross had a hard time. His
father was not present, his mother was a crack and his sister was disabled.
Robert’s mother was an alcoholic who was not supportive for her children and
caused them stress, as she was drunk most of the time. Rowena Ross was
Robert’s sister who he loved dearly. When she passed away, Robert went into a
state of disbelief and stress. He blamed himself for not being able to save her or
her pet rabbits. “It wasn’t Stuart’s fault. It was Robert’s fault.” (Findley, 18) Robert
felt like he couldn’t save his sister and this was a burden that he held onto for his
life. He is always thinking about what he could have done to change the
outcome, which unfortunately occurred. Robert’s mother was no help either in
the grieving process because she was insensitive and rude to him because of
her drinking problem. This just added onto the pain and suffering that Robert had
occurred. Robert accepted his suffering when he burned the picture of Rowena.
“Robert burned it in the middle of the floor” (Findley, 204). The fact that he
burned his sister’s picture shows he is moving on from the grieving process and
accepting fate and understanding what has happened. The mental issues that
Robert has faced as helped shape him into the tragic hero in the novel.
The decisions that Robert Ross classifies him as Tragic Hero. He thinks
that he will do the correct thing, but often times the opposite occurs. “The term
hero is derived from a Greek word that means a person who faces adversity, or
demonstrates courage, in the face of danger. However, sometimes he faces
downfall as well. When a hero confronts downfall, he is recognized as a tragic
hero” (Literary Devices, 2017). It is evident that Robert wants to save lives,
which is why he enrolled in the military. His bad decision comes from how he
wants to save animals lives as well. Animals are similar to humans but there is a
large difference between the death of an animal and the death of a person.
While away at war Robert is faced with a situation that brings out this flaw. Near
the trenches, there is a barn filled with horses. The captain has told Robert do
not save them and focus on the objective at hand. Robert disobeys his captain
because his morals overvalue him and he goes to set the horses free. These
horses are badly injured and some of them are dead. “Robert shot him between
the eyes.”(Findley, 184) Robert felt that the Captain was the reason why the
horses were in the condition that they were in. He felt the only way to make it fair
and get justice for the horses was to kill the person responsible for their death
who he thought was the Captain. This was a bad decision, as Robert did not
think about the consequences of his actions. His punishment was severe as he
was kicked out of the army and placed under arrest for the murder, which he
caused. This was a bad decision that had the opposite effect from what Robert
anticipated. Robert thought he was getting justice for the animals but instead he
murdered a person who wanted to protect Robert’s life as releasing the animals
could have gotten him killed. He demonstrated courage by attempting to free the
animals but his downfall came when he killed the captain. By understanding
what Robert has done it is easy to classify him as a tragic hero.
The novel that Timothy Findley has written called The Wars develops and
presents and excellent example of a tragic hero. Robert Ross is the ideal
example of a tragic hero due to the suffering and pain, which he had to endure.
Ross was shown as a savior to the readers at multiple times. He had a terrible
time growing up and went through immense suffering. Lastly, it is shown that
Robert made some choices that were not ideal and ultimately brought him to his
downfall. Since Robert Ross fits the criteria so well for a tragic hero, he is an
example for all authors to adapt and advance upon.
Work Used
• Findley, Timothy. The Wars. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1978
• “Tragic Hero - Examples and Definition of Tragic Hero.” Literary Devices,
7 May 2017, literarydevices.net/tragic-hero/.
• “What Makes A Hero.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 19 Sept.
2010, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-in-
world/201009/what-makes-hero.
“Tragic Hero - Examples and Definition of Tragic Hero.” Literary Devices, 7 May
2017, literarydevices.net/tragic-hero/.

Unit 4 Sumative

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Arqum Farrukh

November 25, 2019

Robert is analogous to many other personalities such as George Lucas in star

making a judgmental mistake.

and destruction or at least to great suffering.”(Tragic Hero Definition) From this

outcome, which unfortunately occurred. Robert’s mother was no help either in

demonstrates courage, in the face of danger. However, sometimes he faces

what Robert has done it is easy to classify him as a tragic hero.

example for all authors to adapt and advance upon.

• Findley, Timothy. The Wars. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin, 1978

• “Tragic Hero - Examples and Definition of Tragic Hero.” Literary Devices,

7 May 2017, literarydevices.net/tragic-hero/.

• “What Makes A Hero.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 19 Sept.

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