Importance of Symbolism in Timothy Findley’s “War”.

Young people often do non do what to expect of the hereafter. They do not know how to act when something unexpected comes along, and their actions ar based on what they do know usu bothy limited, biased information. This liking is central to the piddling tosh, ? War,? by Timothy Findley. The untried boy, Neil Cable, narrates the day he found out his bring forth had joined the the States. He speaks of his actions, feelings, and confusion border that day. At first glance, his actions be any too often misinterpreted as violence and hatred, but after c arful consideration, star can key that they are merely his steering of dealings with the troubling news.He has not experient enough in his purporttime to have a true concord of fight, and acts upon what he does know. In the short story, ? War? , by Timothy Findley, the younker boys get wind of war and actions finishedout are explained through the use of symbolism. Many symbols in the story give the reviewer an comp osition of the war that Neil pictures in his principal. He sees the war to be incredibly violent, and sound of blood and anger. This image is shown through the mention of trenches. The word is used repeatedly in the story, suggesting that Neil is truly much aware of what happens at war.When Neil is hiding from his sire, he builds a trench out of hay in the barn, suggesting that subconsciously, he is try to prepare his amaze for what is to come. He thinks that if he can show his find what it is like to be in the army, mayhap he provide sanction out. As a young boy, he knows simply what he has seen or heard about, which focuses on the violence and danger of going to war. This idea sparks timidity within Neil, vector suming in anger and rebellion. Another important symbol that shows Neils image of war is the stones that he finds at Arthur Robinsons summer cottage.They are red stones, and he later uses them to throw at his father, nerve-wracking to occur him a focusing. T he stones may stand for bullets, making the confrontation between Neil and his father in the barn much more important. He throws them at his father, not necessarily trying to do harm, but trying to scare him so maybe he ordain change his judgment about going to war. The twine of the stones is too significant they are red, a colour which is known to symbolize anger, hurt, and passion.These are all emotions that Neil knows will run through his father firearm he is away at war. Interestingly, they are also the feelings that rage deep down of Neil while he creates a plan of attack against his father. The stones, along with Neils actions with them, suggest that Neil is trying to prepare his father for the extreme violence that lies in advance of him. When hiding away in the barn, Neil continuously acts like his father will while he is gone ? I was just trying to c at onception out how I could get him before he saw me-and that was all? (Dawe 133).Neil does not realize the meanin g of his actions, but as a subscriber one can see that something deep down inside of him is trying to create a scene of the war this is his way of demonstrating his feelings and disapproval of his father going to war. Uncle Frank and the birch rod bark package show that all Neil knows about war is that people come back hurt. He does not want to accept the fact that his father has joined the army, because in his mind it pith that he will neer see his father again. The only story that Neil knows about being in the army is about his Uncle Frank, who did old age after coming home due to war injuries.Neil knows that his uncle never got his life back after getting hurt, and thinks that anyone who joins the war ends up the same way. afterward finding out his father has joined the army, and recalling the memory of his Uncle Frank, Neil states ? in the army you perpetually went in a trench and got hurt or killed? (Dawe 124). Neil has never heard an uplifting story about war, so in h is mind anyone who joins the army is giving up their life. This idea is confirmed by the birch bark box that Neil gives to both his parents.This box could symbolize a coffin, presentation that Neil truly is afraid of losing his father. He wants to make sure that he gets the box before loss for the army, so that he has it with him when he dies. The box is mentioned at the end of the story, when Neil says that the family picture taken before his father left take over remins in the box, suggesting that Neils fears become a reality. These two symbols show Neils lack of knowledge about war, and explain why he acts the way he does he thinks that his father signing up for the army means that he will never see him again.Neils fear of ducks and the sour suggest that he is afraid of the future he knows that anything could happen once his father leaves for war. His fear of the future is the reason he runs away and hides in the barn. He thinks that if he can keep things the way they are tha t the future would remain the way he imagined it would be. Neil says multiple times in the story that he is afraid of ducks. Ducks are migratory birds they are constantly leaving and returning. Although they travel in bunches, it is common for not all of the ducks to return every year. This pattern is very much like the army.They come and go, some staying for hourlong periods of time, and some never returning at all. Neil is afraid of this uncertainty with his father he does not want to live in fear f his father never returning home, or of never knowing what will happen next. Neil also states that he is very much afraid of the dark. He does not like not knowing what it in front of him, and wants to always be able to see what is coming. This is very important when analysing Neils fears. The reader knows that he does not adjust well to change, and is very uncomfortable when dealing with the unknown.He says ? At least, if you sit still you know where you are- but if you move around, past you dont know where you are? (Dawe 12). This statement tells the reader that Neil is also worried about the change in his life. If things do not change, hence he knows what is going to happen, but as soon as thigns are different, life becomes a guessing game. these fears are the reason that Neil acts the way he does he does not know how to deal with the uncertainty of the future and consequently portrays a very angry, confused young boy.When Neil Cable receives the news that his father has joined the army, he lashes out at him and seems to be a very troubles young boy. After examining the story, one can see that this behaviour is the result of being young, naive, and unaware of the world around him. His knowledge about war is limited, and causes him to react with violence and aggression, but the reader soon realizes that this is the only way he knows how to deal with his fear. By interpreting the many symbols in the short story, ?War? , one can see that Neil Cables image of w ar consists of violence, possible death, and an unknown future. The story is based upon the idea that young people are not experienced enough to deal with rugged situations simply because they have not lived long enough. They pften react in very unexpected and sometimes troublesome ways. In order to understand their actions, one needs to see things from a childs perspective innocent, naive, and in the process of learning about the world around them.