THE WARS- THE FOUR ELEMENTS
The four elements: air, fire, water, and earth brought about by the ancient Greek philosopher Empedocles represent many things during Robert Ross’ journey in Timothy Findley’s The Wars. Empedocles states that everything in the world is structured by and rooted in the four elements. By nature, the four elements are joined together peacefully and harmoniously, but through conflict and violence, can be separated. War is simply a perversion of the elements. Instead of supporting and caring for the elements, humans destroy and disturb the elements during conflict. When this happens, the elements stop representing life and lean more towards representatives of death. When they are disturbed, they are likely to retaliate and become dangerous obstacles that one must surpass. For Robert Ross, at peace the elements take their natural course, but at war they take a more violent turn. At the end of Robert’s life, when he is not disturbing the elements anymore,
Rowena writes “EARTH AND AIR AND FIRE AND WATER” (Findley 196) on his grave. This symbolizes that at death, one is at peace with all the elements, as it is in nature, as one is no longer able to interfere.
Air:
- Air represents Life. Truth is the first quality of the Air Element. It is about finding your own essential truth, the truth of who you really are. But it also brings responsibilities. We readers are aware that Roberts’s childhood was filled with happiness, and the fact that air is reminding him of his past days and persuades him to step away from the choice of going to war shows both of this element is life supporting and caring.
However, since Robert chooses to join the army the natural element here (relating back to thesis) is shown as something different.
- One symbol air is shown as is the chlorine gas used against the Allies, which Robert neutralizes with urine.
One scene which shows the idea of air:
- “The Melting snow began to turn into mist and the mist was filled with rabbits and Rowena and his father and his mother and the whole of his past life—birth and death and childhood. He could breathe them in and breathe them out.” (Findley 16)
Here we can see how air is a death bringing element and it is heavily polluted with hatred and Robert is forced to breathe this in.
- One element that plays a role with air is water. In the same scene above, while Robert is remembering his childhood, while standing on the train platform, water plays a part as well, showing Robert his available choices.
“He did not know in which direction he would go: down into the puddle and up to the town or back along the platform” (Findley 16)
Water and air are portrayed in this scene in their natural form; once again, as stated previously, they remind Robert of his past days and compel him to step away from the choice of going to war.
Zack Falcioni Earth
Earth during times of war
Earth is one of the four necessary elements needed to create life, but during times of war, it is clear that this once life bringing element receives a negative connotation. The element of earth is manipulated during these times of savagery to represent and, ironically, cause the destruction of life.
This is evident in many passages found in the novel “The Wars” by Timothy Findley.
Earth in The Wars
Earth initially represents death in the novel when Rowena falls to the ground and dies.
“Jesus.
Earth again represents death when Rowena was buried in the ground.
“How could he move? Rowena had been
buried the day before.” (Findley 16).
She fell.
It was a Sunday.
Robert wasn’t there.”
(Findley 16).
Instead of the element of earth being involved in the production of life, it is used as a final resting place for Robert’s sister. Many soldiers shared the same fate as Rowena when there lives were also cut short due to these times of war.

At the end of the novel, Robert too shares the same fate as his sister. He is also buried in the earth after his death. The earth is also Robert’s final resting place.
Earth was a direct representation of death when Robert’s life was almost taken away by thick mud while he was in the trenches.
“Suddenly, his right foot went down. All the way down to the knee through the earth. Dear Jesus– he was going to drown.” (Findley 77-78).
We see in this passage that Robert’s life was actually put in jeopardy by the earth in which he stood on. This once seen as a life giving element, almost took away Roberts’ life. The description of mud signifies how the nurturing earth has changed on the battle field.
“Robert waited– holding his breathe– thinking they were going to be buried alive. But the heaving stopped at last and it appeared that
whatever was going to collapse had done so.” (Findley 110).
When the reality of war hits, the Earth is seen as a destructive force. When the dugout collapses, the Earth has once again put Robert’s life in jeopardy.
Interaction of Earth and the 3 other Elements (Air, Water, and Fire)
Earth interacts with water to create the mud that almost claims Robert’s life (as previously mentioned).
Earth interacts with the chlorine polluted air which temporarily blinds Robert. “The chlorine in the mud. Robert was blinded...Robert desperately
tried to see but his eyes wouldn’t open. They were flooded with burning tears and his lids wouldn’t lift.” (Findley 79).
Earth interacts with fire when flamethrowers are used in battle. They were used to set the Earth on fire, which claimed the lives of many soldiers. “It was something called a ‘flame thrower’ and rumours had come down the line describing it—but no one had believed... Fire storms
raged along the front. Men exploded where they stood– blown apart by the combustion.” (Findley 132).
Water Representing Change
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Robert takes a bath to soothe his wounds after he his hurt by the man he tried to attack
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It rains at Rowena's funeral
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Robert stands in the rain at the trains station, much like how Mrs. Ross lets the rain beat down on her face
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Water satisfying Robert’s thirst (Findley 27) Water as a plentiful source of life.
Fire

During WWI water was the main means of transportation. The planes could carry only two people.
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Water as a sense of security: Harris explains that all people come from the sea, using whales as an example. Later, Harris’ ashes are thrown to the water in the hopes that it will reach the sea.
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When he lost his suitcase he remained dirty for a long time. Water cleansed Robert when he finally took a bath.
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“surely he would hear something- a river a waterfall..”(177) he wanted to hear peace or life in the rough landscapes of the battlefields
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Mrs. Ross laughed because the ice had melted and could not be used as a weapon (a snowball) the water here can be defined as a peace maker

Water also saves the frog from dying in the gas. The frog does not interfere with nature, so it was saved.
Fire represents both faith and destruction during Robert’s journey.
Because of the war, shellings, and flamethrowers, fire is an agent of destruction. It takes the lives of many in the war as Robert hears of and witnesses. Villiers (Findley 159) eventually dies of burns that he received in battle. It is because of the wars that the fire element claimed the lives of many and became a dangerous obstacle for many soldiers. Robert himself is actually killed by the fire lit to the barn when the soldiers chase after him. This was an act of violence, causing fire to destroy the lives of many animals and Robert.
Even in the midst of the war, there is still an element of faith represented by the fire. Rowena lights candles in memory of Lady Sorrel. She gives one of her candles to Robert which later lights on fire when Robert is attacked by planes. Seeing the lit candle brings Robert out of his shellshock and helps him notice the dying people around him. He then proceeds to help them.
When Harris dies, he is cremated. This fire represents something outside of the war, so it is more of a peaceful and faithful fire. It burns Harris to ashes as an act of ceremony and not violence. In this way, Harris’ body is able to be sent to the sea. This is an example of fire interacting with water in an environment where the elements are not disturbed. Robert also burns the photo of Rowena as an act of charity towards her. This is also outside of the war, where the elements are not disturbed. It is a way that fire allows Robert to finally let go of Rowena.

Submitted by: Zack F., Bruno P., Mat M., Caelan S.