Robert Ross

Robert Ross was the protagonist of the novel, "The Wars". At eighteen, he enlisted and served as a second lieutenant in the Canadian field artillery from 1916-1917.

Biography
Robert Raymond Ross (born on December 15, 1896) was a Canadian soldier who went to Europe to fight the German forces during World War I. He died of his war wounds several years after the war ended.

Personality
His personality is serious, practical, determined, and observant of things that other people cannot see. His observations also allow him to react quickly to the situations he encounters in this novel. Robert suffers great guilt over the accidental death of his sister, Rowena, who died from a fall onto cement ground in the barn. After Rowena's death, Robert became distant from his mother and much closer to his father, who continued to support and encourage him throughout his experience in the war. Rowena's death also leaves him with violent streaks and leads an internal war with himself while also trying to cope with the war going on in the world. Even though Robert is determined, he was not a natural killer; this weakness was seen in his inability to kill the injured horse or Rowena's rabbits.

Robert strove to learn from Eugene Taffler, whom Robert hoped could help teach him to kill by example. After all the terrible things Robert witnesses, he gradually descends into madness, and goes AWOL. He kills two fellow officers in an attempt to save hundreds of horses from slaughter.

Physical appearance
Robert was described as being handsome, and desirable.

Etymology
From the Germanic name Hrodebert meaning "bright fame", derived from the Germanic elements hrod "fame" and beraht "bright". The name Robert was also a royal name in France, Germany and England during medieval period. Robert was the name of several kings, dukes, and other rulers and noblemen.

In German, das Ross (or das Roß) means "the steed" or "the horse".

Trivia

 * Robert was inspired by the author's uncle, Thomas Irving Findley, to whom the author dedicated the novel. Findley named the character after Canadian literary figure Robbie Ross.