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Part 2, Chapter 10
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wars, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Trauma and War
Blame, Revenge, and Justice
Loss of Innocence
Honor, Duty, and Heroism
Summary
Analysis
In the present day, Barbara’s sister, Lady Juliet d’Orsey (now in her seventies), still remembers Robert vividly. She is the fourth of the Marquis and Marchioness of St. Aubyn’s five children and the sole survivor of the family, still residing at their London address. Juliet is proud of Robert and angered by the mention of his detractors, including Robert’s brother Stuart.
This passage reveals that Robert’s own family, in addition to his fellow soldiers, still blame him for whatever act he committed, and view him as dishonorable many years after the war has ended. By gradually revealing details like this, Findley creates an air of mystery and mythology around what happened to Robert before and after the scene in the prologue, allowing for a full contextualization of Robert’s time in the war before making judgments about his final actions.
Themes
