Man! I feel like a woman.

"This author challenges the stereotypical views of society...". Let's face it, in most of our literary analysis this sentence somehow emerges. The case is no difference with Timothy Findley's, "The Wars". According to secondary sources provided by the National Library of Canada and Acadia University, Findley's groundbreaking novel was the first to depict, "the war to end all wars" in a different light. First of all, Findley was not a war veteran but rather a third party in the piecing together of the life of Robert Ross. Secondly, the term "wars" goes beyond the literal level, by pluralizing wars in the title, Findley alludes to the multiplicity of battles present on an internal level as well. "The Wars" transgresses "normal" in two ways, first, as discussed before, Findley's approach to writing the novel and second, through the character of Robert Ross. What is the stereotypical view of a man? Brawn, confidence, hard ass? Yes. Robert Ross struggled with adapting to being a part of the war and leaving his beloved sister behind. Do we see Robert as less of a man? Nay. But why not? Findley evokes sympathy in the reader through the recount of the life of Robert Ross, this creates a different understanding of the concept of masculinity. Hell, if being a man was solely based on brawn, confidence and being a hard ass, I'd be the ideal man.