The Pursuit Of Happiness In Timothy Findley's 'The Wars'

Arguably, the happier an individual is, the better the quality of their life, and the better off they are. But despite this, there are people who will even argue that lower levels of happiness are the best because you maintain the ability to progress in life and your motivation is still present. Although many people will only see two sides to this argument, there is a totally different view that provides the optimal quality of life and the most beneficial outcome in the big picture; and that is moderate happiness.

The novella Generals Die in Bed was written by Charles Yale Harrison who was born in Philadelphia and raised in Montreal. Harrison fought in World War 1 with the Canadian army and later became a writer in New York City. Generals Die in Bed is a fictional novella based on Harrison’s personal experience with the army that mostly takes place in France from the early part of the war until 1918. The story follows a private throughout his time on active duty that offers a brutally honest depiction of the war trenches during World War 1. As the novella progresses, we gradually see the narrator’s growing hatred for war. By being chronological, the novella effectively illustrates the events as if they are happening in real time, the impact these events

“Never that which is shall die.” This quote appears in the beginning of The Wars quoted by Euripes. This phrase means that once something exists, it never really dies. In the novel by Timothy Findley, the quote strongly relates to the main character Robert. As the story continues on, Robert starts off with innocence and despite all the terrible things he does throughout the book, his innocence and kindness never really dies, it will always be present. In Timothy Findley’s novel, The Wars, he uses symbolism and character development to suggest; that despite how hard one may try to change themselves, they will never be happy, they should only be content to stay as themselves and not try to be like others. Initially, Robert Ross is a great protector of innocence. As the story progresses, he tries hard to become a war hero in order to gain redemption but fails in the process. By the end, Robert

The outstanding ways that people can be brainwashed. Hitler was a dictator that didn't so much brainwash people he would just capture them and make them slaves in World War ll. In the book Anthem, they have been taught to think a certain way and make them live the way they want. Comparing the Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow, and then putting Anthem next to it, it shows that Hitler was a dictator that did not care about anyone.

Moreover, Heller shows the perversions of the human character and society. Using unique style and structure, and also satirizes war and its values as well as using the war setting to satirize society at large. By manipulating the war setting and language of the novel Heller is able to depict society as dark and twisted. Heller demonstrates his thoughts of society through the depicted war. In the novel, the loss of personal identity in the soldiers lives.

In Ernest Hemmingway’s story Soldier’s Home he effectively develops the theme of war changing people. By character, relationships and a lack of drive.

In the article “Stop Trying to be Happy,” Mark Manson states that nowadays, people are striving so hard to be happy, while happiness is something in their self. However, most of them do not realize that when they do something they like, that is not a happiness, it just a pleasure. The problem why people are unhappy is, they always do something on other people expectations, not struggle to reach their expectation. Moreover, negative emotion is important to release unnecessary thing in our self, it keeps a happiness steady. Most people, always do something that is hard for themselves, but they keep try to do it, even they are fail. That kind of action makes them become their ideal selves, it is the effort to reach their expectation to get happy.

Within Liam O’Flaherty’s short story, “The Sniper”, there are two literary devices that greatly impact the meaning of the story. These two literary devices are irony and mood, and together they show the reader how difficult war can be and how it can pull friends and families apart. While reading the text, the reader can feel how tired, lethargic, yet exciting war can be. On page 1, paragraph 3, the sniper was “eating a sandwich hungrily” because he “had eaten nothing since morning”. In this paragraph, readers can feel how the thrill of war can overcome a person, taking over their actions, emotions, and feelings. Irony also plays a big part in “The Sniper”, helping support the meaning of the story through the theme. At the end of the story in paragraphs 25-27, the sniper decides to look at the body of the man he had just killed, and to his surprise, he finds that the man he had just shot dead was his brother.

We as humans find conflict to be rash and futile, but to the soldiers that fight for our freedom, it is an honor and a privilege, but it is dreadful nonetheless. We are going to be discussing Tim O'Brien's intentions in writing the short story “Where Have You Gone Charming Billy.” It is my understanding that he wrote the story to tell us about war as it is hard to imagine its entirety and that war takes lives. Finally, I believe that he wants us to see how dangerous and terrifying war really is. So let’s explore this complication.

The ability to possess strength is built on by a continual commitment to personal values. Individuals who are tenacious and who are willing to have faith in their beliefs are capable of being extremely empathetic and have the ability to identify and connect with others. Strength and empathy work hand in hand to create a strong sense of resilience in the face of conflict. Individuals who are able to act in a resilient manner for their personal values live balanced lives and are successful in upholding personal goals. Throughout Timothy Findley’s novel The Wars, the power of empathy is demonstrated by Robert Ross; an extremely compassionate and caring young man. Robert attempts to rebuild his sense of resilience during internal and external conflicts.

Responsibility often comes with the connotations of burden and sacrifice and most of the time, this is true. In The Wars, by Timothy Findley, the concept of responsibility is demonstrated in the character of Mrs. Ross whose duties as a wife and a mother may be viewed as cold, cruel, and purposefully isolating; the complete opposite of the archetype of a compassionate mother figure. However, like each unique individual in society, the way one responds and takes responsibility varies infinitely; Mrs. Ross attempts to dissociate from society when she feels she has not fulfilled her duties and responsibilities. However, her empathetic nature prevents her from completely isolating herself from all sentiment. Rather, she subconsciously internalizes the welfare and hardships faced by others while sacrificing her own well-being. Through the complex character of Mrs. Ross, Timothy Findley explores the selfless, and sometimes unconventional nature of responsibility, where individuals may attempt to isolate oneself from the burdens of responsibility but still feel obligated to affirm their roles through internalizing the welfare of others whilst depriving oneself if the duties are not fulfilled.

Different voices and tones depict the various ways that characters in a novel suffer. Julia Alvarez, Tim O’Brien, Zainab Salbi, and Sebastian Junger illustrate the hardship of war, and how a war participant is shaped by the concept of war. All four authors/lecturers present a different perspective on war; however the four authors/lecturers are cohesive with the idea of war being complex. In Julia Alvarez’s In the Time of the Butterflies, Alvarez parallels a historical event with fictional sisters who fight a war by not succumbing to the suppressive laws. Likewise, throughout his biography about himself as a fictional character, Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried depicts O’Brien’s stories and tales of war, and how everything one hears about

Robert was still very much a soldier, he lost his gun and his kit bag. “His brain went silent” (177) after he realized is kit bag was missing, “He wanted is pistol… Gun. Gun. He wanted his gun.” (177-178) The gun had become a part of who Robert was and without it he panicked and his brain stopped working; this shows how much being a soldier has affected and changed Robert. Robert got his kit bag back form Poole, when he opened it “everything was still there-including the picture of Rowena, Robert burned it in the middle of the floor. This was not an act of anger-but an act of charity.” (179-180) Robert burnt the picture because he was taking her with him where he went and he didn’t want her to face what was next to come. Robert went into an abandoned barn with several horses, which Mickle is determined to take back. Robert shoots at Mickle again while adding “we will not be taken.” (193) Mickle orders his men to burn the barn, when they do the barn goes up faster than anticipated and the roof collapses. Robert was shouting “I can’t! I can’t! I can’t!” (194) but by the time the men opened the door it was too late, Mickle admitted “he was barely able to recognize that Robert had a face.” (194) Robert’s care for animas nearly got him killed, but showed that he was more fearless which was because of the war. Robert

By nature the four elements fire, water, earth, and air are joined together to be balanced and peaceful, but through conflict and violence these elements become dangerous. A Greek philosopher Empedocles created the elements. From there on elements have been used to symbolize many different things in literature. In Timothy Findley’s The Wars, Timothy Findley incorporates the theme of the elements in which he shows the symbolism of all the elements as being peaceful and representing life in the beginning of the story, while later on as the story progresses due to the conflict and violence caused by the wars the elements symbolize destruction and despair in

The Wars by Timothy Findley describes the many struggles and hardships that people face in life. One common tragedy is the death of a loved one. Findley introduces the reader to two characters who are confronting adversities that have come their way: Robert Ross and his mother, Mrs. Ross. Undoubtedly, losing someone precious leads to a great deal of sadness and anguish. However, The Wars offers a means of coping with the traumatic incident in an effective manner by contrasting Robert’s and Mrs. Ross’s journey of healing. It is evident throughout the book that Robert was able to overcome his past experiences better than Mrs. Ross since he actively sought healthy relationships with others that later proved to be meaningful and beneficial. His