The War Within War Struggles in life are something we all face, whether they are physical, emotional, mental, or personal struggles. These struggles are capable of shaping an individual's personality and outlook on life. Timothy Findley's novel The Wars shows that the struggles lead to the character's ultimate internal struggles, external struggles, and self-discovery. War exists in the physical and psychological aspects of a person. In The Wars, Robert Ross goes to war and fights a personal and physical battle. In the novel The Wars, Robert Ross is a sensitive nineteen-year-old boy who experiences firsthand the horrors of battle as a Canadian soldier in the First World War. in hopes of trying to find out who he is. Appointed lieutenant shortly after arriving in Europe, Robert is forced into combat. War has been a constant part of human history. It has greatly influenced the lives of people around the world. These effects, however, are extremely harmful. Soldiers must endure extreme stress on the battlefield. Those who cannot mentally overcome these challenges may develop post-traumatic stress disorder. Timothy Findley shows the effects wars have on individuals in his novel The Wars. Findley suggests that war can change a person's behavior in many different ways, however in most cases it is viewed negatively. Robert Ross, the main character of The Wars, displays symptoms of what is known as post-traumatic stress disorder in today's society. The war is having a growing effect on Robert. His exposure to violence is leaving him in a fragile mental and physical state. His behavior can be interpreted as increasingly violent and may show his worsening mental health, which is a sign of physical struggles within the...... middle of paper ......on the field of battle of one of his companions, Robert experiences difficulty in trying to fall asleep. All he wanted was a dream. Leak. But no one dreams of a battlefield. You don't sleep that long. War is something that soldiers go to in hopes of escaping or leaving their lives behind in their homeland. For some people identifiable with Robert, trying to "find" who you are in war is considered an option. Going to war does not mean being a man and is unfortunately seen as a “manly” duty. Robert's struggles are based in his personal and family life, in which he is unable to find his true calling or meaning in life amidst all the chaos of his life. War should not be the result of one person trying to find out who they are. War can only cause further mental and physical problems that can be traumatic for the soldier himself, just as Robert had experienced first hand.