Robert Ross is in a predicament that showcased the epitome of juxtaposition in this particular novel. Robert a being of gentle and compassionate spirit is thrust into a chaos ridden world, that most would not be able to make sense of let alone survive as long as he did. The protagonist is forced to participate in acts that are so wildly in opposition to his gentle and caring nature. Roberts’s deep reverence for all living things is at the core of who he is as a person. Under these circumstances, it is reasonable to infer any man would become unraveled and Robert was no exception. The lesson that can be drawn from Roberts experience is war failed to corrupt Roberts ideals namely his respect for life, though surrounded by death he was able to hold on to his soul, though broken he wanted to continue living. Secondly one has to always continue living, even when there seems to be no reason to carry on.
Throughout this account it is a reoccurring theme, how much Robert loves animals but sadly he is exposed to repeated bouts of being in the company of suffering animals. Starting with his late sisters rabbits, his mother insisted they be destroyed after she passed away but Robert was not able to …show more content…
Robert held on to hope of life to the very end another lesson that the author put across was the futility of war and how the ultimate victims of war are the men and women that fight in them yet it is something that is difficult to avoid just like animals suffering despite Roberts every effort it was something that continued to happen. Our protagonist endured many atrocities from reckless commanding officers to being raped by fellow soldiers a true stripping of the human spirit it is truly difficult to see hoe any human being could still have any faith in the human race after an ordeal of this