In the novel A Town Like Alice, lasting love finds its foundation during World War II when Jean and Joe develop the beginnings of their need-based relationship. Needs that manifest during the horrific times they endured as prisoners of war. During a time of isolation and degradation, the barriers of social status were destroyed and they found comfort in each other, as well as a momentary escape from the misery of being prisoners of war. The bond Jean and Joe formed in Malaya during World War II laid the foundation for an everlasting, lifelong love. Jean and Joe later crossed continents to reunite. « 'Dear Joe. Of course I'm in love with you. What do you think I came to Australia for?'” (248). They had found in the war a bond based on need, a need for companionship and understanding, and in that need they later discovered an enduring love that could never die. In the novel The English Patient, the war temporarily eliminated the stigma attached to dark skin and allowed another love based on mutual needs to blossom. “His only human and personal contact was this enemy who had built the bomb and left…” (105). Kip's connection with Hana allowed him to connect with humanity again. The love he discovered with Hana satisfied Kip's need to never be weak. “He refused to believe in his own weakness, and in her he found no weakness to adapt to” (114). The English patient also confirms the fact that love during war gives reason for hope in often hopeless times. In the novel The Return of the Soldier, instead of uniting the lovers, the war seemed to separate a love that should have been between Chris and Margaret. Chris and Margaret were truly in love, but the war, even if time… half the paper… would run down his cheeks, which to her was the most terrible thing of all, to see a man like Septimus. , who had fought, who had been brave, crying” (137). His shell shock is exacerbated by the fact that the medical field did not fully understand or recognize the severity of shell shock during that time. Neither his family nor his doctors had any idea what he was dealing with or how to help him. The war and his mental illness were the cause of Septimus' separation from life. Separate yourself mentally and emotionally. Septimus felt trapped, even though he didn't want to die he felt there was no escape other than death. “'I'll give it to you!' he screamed and threw himself vigorously, violently onto the railing in Mrs. Filmer's area” (146). Atonement and Mrs Dalloway show that war is an unimaginable horror but it also shows that the human condition has unimaginable strengths..