Essay Examplar

The entire universe is interconnected, one way or another, to the actions of the things
which populate it. The Chaos theory states that the flap of a butterflys wings can cause a
typhoon halfway across the world, revealing the truth that people are always connected to
the actions of others. Futures change, lives end and characters destroy themselves trying
to comprehend how they would be in such a different state had one person not said what
theyd said or had not done what theyd done. In the novel The Wars, by Timothy
Findley, it is revealed to the reader that one persons choice can completely change the
outcome of anothers life. This is especially relevant when it comes to one of the human
races most primal natures: sex. In the novel, we see that, one by one characters are
affected by other characters sexual acts. This is most obvious for the three characters
Rowena and Robert Ross, and Juliet DOrsey.
Rowena Ross was affected directly by her brothers actions. Her life was always
a struggle as she was born with water on the brain (Findley 10). Confined to a
wheelchair, Rewena was a twenty-five year old who had no ability to manoeuvre without
the guiding hands of her loving brother, Robert. Robert took on the responsibility of
caring for his older sister because, according to Mrs. Ross, He loved her (Findley 19).
Robert became her guardian. It was for her he learned to run (Findley 10). Robert did
love Rowena, and he loved whatever she loved, as well. Rowenas pride and joy were
her rabbits. Very much like her, they were confined for most of their lives. Occasionally,
she put the rabbits out on the lawn to let them eat the grass, giving them the freedom
that she never had (Findley 18). Her life, unfortunately, came to a quick and abrupt end.
In the novel, it says, She fell. It was Sunday. Robert wasnt there. She died on the
Monday, never regaining consciousness (Findley 16). Just as Robert took on the
responsibility for Rowenas life, he took on her death as well. He was quick to blame
himself for her death because he was her guardian. He was supposed to be with her at all
times, but he decided to take time for himself. When Rowena fell from her chair in the
barn, Robert was locked in his bedroom. Making love to his pillows (Findley 16). At
first, Robert blamed his younger brother, Stewart, for her death, but then, quite quickly,
he realized that it was he who was to blame. Relating back to the subject, Rowena was
affected as deeply as anyone could ever be to someone elses sexual actions in the sense
that she lost her life. It was Roberts duty to watch over her and he relinquished that duty
for a short amount of time, and that was all it took. Rowenas death was why Robert
joined the army. It was also how he met Eugene Taffler.
Taffler was a war hero, known by every soldier as such. Wounded on his first
term in France, Taffler returned to the Canadian plains to see over the horses of the army.
He was a hard worker, a celebrity of sorts, who was forever being scrutinized by the
public. Women loved him. Men envied him. He was a David searching for Goliath, a
challenge to overcome. Robert, at the mere thought of Taffler, was intimidated. Here
was a man who was strong, fearless and experienced in the dance of war. Robert wanted
to be him. This image, however, was completely shattered by one incident including a
whorehouse, a Swede and on special lilac:
Lookit, she said, when he arrived beside her. She took
him by the back of his neck and pushed him forward. The
lilacs [in the wall paper] blurred, and he wondered what it
was she meant to do with him and what sort of perversion
this was and then he saw that one of the lilacs wasnt a
lilac at all but a camouflaged hole. He could see right
through to the room next door (Findley 39).

As Robert looked into the neighbouring room, he saw something that would haunt him
for the rest of his life. Eugene Taffler was having sex with another man, a Swedish man.
This display forced Robert to become violent and he chucked a shoe at the water jug,
shattering it to pieces. The water jug represents Roberts views of the war hero: broken,
never to be put back together ever again. The man whom Robert had looked up to had
ended up being someone completely different that Robert had taken him to be. Robert
would never look at Taffler the same way again. Robert was affected deeply by Tafflers
choices because the ideal, perfect man that Robert had taken Eugene to be was no more
than human. Capable of succumbing to urges just as many other heroes have been known
to do. This scene, also, may have had an impact on how Robert saw sex. It was no
longer something sacred to be had between two people who loved and cherished one
another, but it was possible to give in to urges without having strings attached. This may
have lead to the affair between Robert Ross and Barbara DOrsey (Findley 143).
Barbara DOrsey was a woman never to be left alone. She was forever
accompanied by her endless array of suitors from Eugene Taffler to Jamie Villiers. She
went from man to man, it seemed, faster that the seasons changed. She left freesia (type
of flower) whenever she felt her relationships had reached an end. It is safe to say that,
by her track record, she will forever and always smell of those beautiful flowers. Barbara
had a younger sister by the name of Juliet. Juliet admitted to having a lifelong love
affair with curiosity, which led her to witness something that would scar her for the rest
of her life (Findley 147). While trying to scare her older sister into believing that Juliet
was a ghost, she walked in on a situation that would have been better served had it been
left alone in the dark:
Barbara was lying on the bed, so her head hung down and I
thought that Robert must be trying to kill her. They were both
quite nakedRoberts neck was full of blood and his veins
stood out. He hated her (Findley 160).
Juliet walked in on her sister and Robert having sex. She said that she knew, deep down,
that they were making love, but this title does not seem appropriate since Robert never
truly loved Barbara, just as Taffler never loved the Swede. It was more of a fling, nothing
more. Juliet, in seeing this, had her hopes of being with Robert broken and crushed. She
knew, the first time she set her eyes on Robert and Barbara, that their love would never
be, forcing her to live the rest of her life alone, never loving anyone as much as she loved
Robert. Juliet would have loved to have been with Robert, but in the circumstances in
which they met, it would have been impossible.
Sex affects everyone, even those not involved: Robert by Tafflers experience,
Juliet and Rewena by Roberts experiences. The problem with most people today is that
their selfish ambitions and personal wants overtake the sense of decency and aid towards
others. A persons actions do not only affect themselves, but ripple like waves in the
water, spreading and venturing off. In this novel, the characters sexual acts affect deeply
those around them.

Literary Essay Parts Labelling Activity

On your essay, label each part.
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o
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o
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Body Paragraph 2
Conclusion
Body Paragraph 1
Introduction
3 Points
3 Examples
3 Explanations
Thesis
Body Paragraph 3
Introduction of the 3 main points
3 Transition sentences
Title
Author
Literary Essay Parts Labelling Activity

On your essay, label each part.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Body Paragraph 2
Conclusion
Body Paragraph 1
Introduction
3 Points
3 Examples
3 Explanations
Thesis
Body Paragraph 3
Introduction of the 3 main points
3 Transition sentences
Title
Author
Literary Essay Parts Labelling Activity

On your essay, label each part.

o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Body Paragraph 2
Conclusion
Body Paragraph 1
Introduction
3 Points
3 Examples
3 Explanations
Thesis
Body Paragraph 3
Introduction of the 3 main points
3 Transition sentences

o Title
o Author