World War I or “The War to End All Wars” was one of the most devastating events in human history . When looking back on such a horrific war, it is understandable that we dwell on the key battles and tactics, which are often summarized by death toll statistics. However, we often forget that statistics create an illusion that distorts our perception of death. As Stalin said: “One death is a tragedy, a million deaths is just a statistic.” In the novel "The Wars" by Timothy Findley, the author moves away from traditional war stories by showing a true appreciation of life that truly touches the reader on a human and emotional level. Timothy Findley narrows it down to something everyone can relate to: a loving mother worrying about her son risking his life in a war. This mother in "The Wars" is Mrs. Ross, who represents the home front while her son, Robert Ross, fights for the British in World War I. As the book progresses and Robert descends into the death trap known as "The Great War", Mrs. Ross becomes increasingly obsessive and connected to her son as his destiny becomes clearer . Throughout this novel, the reader is given the task of putting together the pieces of a very complex puzzle. By solving this riddle, the reader learns valuable information about Mrs. Ross's difficult past, which greatly influences her entire life. The root of Mrs. Ross's problems ultimately lies in the shocking death of "Mrs. Ross." Ross's only brother, a boy named Monty Miles, who was killed while walking home…A wayward trolley left the tracks to cut him down” ( ). According to the narrator "The mourning had been going on for years"() and this event truly traumatized Mrs. Ross because "the world was full of streetcars and Mrs. Ross ...... middle of paper ..... .the novel Both Mrs. Ross and Robert are blind, representing a physical embodiment of their discontent with the world. The tragic misfortunes they witnessed throughout the novel resulted in an overwhelming darkness that they welcomed. teaches the reader, through Ms. Ross, that the repercussions of the death of a single person, like Monty Miles, can traumatize a person forever. Ms. Ross further highlights the holistic effect of war, in particular. about families watching over their sons' return Therefore, Mrs. Ross's relationship with her son throughout the book teaches us what it means to truly appreciate life We sometimes view war with a perspective that doesn't allow us. to understand what the loss of human life really means. However, in this novel we learn that life is truly sacred, especially in the eyes of a loving mother..