The prologue reappears in Part 5 Chapter 11. At first, the prologue gives the first impression of Robert Ross as a protagonist. His actions are just for releasing the horses. Immediately after however, the story of this event changes, as others are not keen in telling the whole story of the event, which reveals that the event was not as good as what it seemed. Eventually, the reference of the prologue reappears, word for word, in Part 5, and it reveals that Robert Ross, due to his attachment to animals, tries to save the animals by releasing them. However, his actions are condemned by Captain Leather, who tries to stop them. Chaos follows, which leads to the deaths of Devlin, who aids Robert, and Captain Leather. This event is ambigious. Does one do what their commanding officer tells them to do, even if it leads to fatal results, or does one do what they believe is right?
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Monday 20 February 2012
Rabbit, Dogs, Horses, and Coyotes
Animals are used as companions within the novel, The Wars. In the prologue, dogs and horses are the companions of Robert Ross.
I first thought the prologue described a scene which a good deed was done by Robert Ross, as it appeared that he was releasing the horses. However, in the following section, it appeared that the reference of Robert and the horses brought negative emotions to the characters, thus his action was not a good one.
Characters with animal companions so far are Taffler, who has a dog, and Rowena, who has rabbits. Robert is also seen with a coyote during a scene in which he is jogging.
Coyotes are animals that are hunt alone. "Lone wolves" come to mind when the word "coyote" is said.
"Robert was late that night for lights out. His punishment was that he was confined to the barracks for two weeks. In the evenings, he sat on the roof and stared and stared and stared across the prairie - wishing that someone would howl." p.28
Robert is placed in a situation similar to the coyote - alone and thirsty (for another person's presence, represented by the howl).
I first thought the prologue described a scene which a good deed was done by Robert Ross, as it appeared that he was releasing the horses. However, in the following section, it appeared that the reference of Robert and the horses brought negative emotions to the characters, thus his action was not a good one.
Characters with animal companions so far are Taffler, who has a dog, and Rowena, who has rabbits. Robert is also seen with a coyote during a scene in which he is jogging.
Coyotes are animals that are hunt alone. "Lone wolves" come to mind when the word "coyote" is said.
"Robert was late that night for lights out. His punishment was that he was confined to the barracks for two weeks. In the evenings, he sat on the roof and stared and stared and stared across the prairie - wishing that someone would howl." p.28
Robert is placed in a situation similar to the coyote - alone and thirsty (for another person's presence, represented by the howl).
Red, Black, and Yellow?
"Longboat, Robert's hero, was an Indian. He ran the marathon. He won things. Then he smiled and was silent. Robert smiled and was silent, too. He'd go upstairs into the attic, when he was ten, and take off his clothes in front of an old, dark mirror and wished that he was red. Or black. Or yellow. Any colour but pink. Smiling and silence didn't seem to go with pink." p.47
At first, the colours made me think of Germany. However, I realized that the colours were referring to skin tone. Since the age of ten, Robert wanted to be different. To imitate his hero, he even went as far as to run twenty-six laps around his neighborhood, with his bare feet.
His mother went against his urge to run, but his father let him. This foreshadows the actions of each parent in the future. When Robert goes to war, his father writes and sees him to support him while his mother does not.
At first, the colours made me think of Germany. However, I realized that the colours were referring to skin tone. Since the age of ten, Robert wanted to be different. To imitate his hero, he even went as far as to run twenty-six laps around his neighborhood, with his bare feet.
His mother went against his urge to run, but his father let him. This foreshadows the actions of each parent in the future. When Robert goes to war, his father writes and sees him to support him while his mother does not.
Tuesday 7 February 2012
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