rmy to replace taking care of Rowena, by taking care of the human condition. Later when Robert loses Harris, he busies himself by performing the last rites over his good friend. “This is not a military funeral. This is just a burial at sea. May we all remove our caps? (p107)” Later when Robert is attacked in the bath house, he finds that he is still trying to protect Rowena. He does this by lighting her pictures on fire to remove her from this cruel world. “Robert sat on the mutilated mattress and opened his kit bag. Everything was there – including the picture of Rowena. Robert burned it in the middle of the floor. This was not an act of anger – but an act of charity. (p172)” These show that even through despair, Robert manages to stick to his ideals.In the face of tragedy, Robert manages to hold true to his ideals. When Robert and his men where stuck in the hole, Robert manages to help him men escape. When he fears being attacked, he quickly shoots the German who is watching them. He would always live to regret this mistake. “The sound of it would haunt him to the day he died. (p130)” Not long after that, when Robert tries to free the horses, he gets caught in a burning barn. Finally as they manage to get Robert out of the barn, half burned, he still cares more for the sake of the animals over his own. “Robert was herd to say with great clarity: ‘The dog. The dog.’ And then he lost consciousness. (p185)” Even in the face of death, and the tragic outcome of his fate with the horses, when he is offered a way out of life and suffering, he refuses to take it when it is offered by Marian Turner. “’I will help you if you want me to.’ And I knew he understood because he said: ‘Not yet.’ (p190)”Through out his life Robert faces many trials and tribulations faced in betrayal, despair and tragedy. Even through all this...
