Significance of Rabbits

Rowena had a love and passion for her dozen or so rabbits. She cared for them every day; Robert and she would take them out to the grass every day after Robert’s exercises and let them graze on the grass. Before Rowena passed away, Robert and her had a conversation as follows:

‘Robert?’

‘Yes, Rowena?’

‘Will you stay with me forever?’

‘Yes, Rowena?’

‘Can the rabbits stay forever, too?’

‘Yes, Rowena?’ (Findley 18)

This was a crucial conversation between Robert and Rowena before she passed because of the events that occurred afterwards. Robert promised that nothing would happen to her rabbits and more specifically herself.  The rabbits were the only thing Robert had left of Rowena. Robert’s life was revolved around Rowena, caring for her and always being there for her. The rabbits symbolized what was left of Rowena for Robert and the events that happened really separated that bond between them.

The fact that Mrs. Ross wanted Robert to kill the rabbits only days after her death really set his emotions apart from his family. Since Robert refused to kill the only thing left of Rowena, in which he promised nothing would happen to them, they hired a man with no remorse named Teddy Budge to assassinate the rabbits. I believe Robert’s mother proceeded with this deed too early after the death and this is why Robert snapped and joined the army without goodbyes the next day.

A good point is brought up by a former student of this project by the name of Brett Perry. His reflections on this incident was that Robert’s mother was trying to prepare him for the Canadian Forces and killing rabbits would be a stepping stone for his transformation to becoming a soldier. Instead of trying to make him a cold blooded killer prepared for warfare, she just made a mess out of a big hearted, passionate young man. (Perry) I didn’t even think of this perspective in my mind. I thought his mother was just doing this to show authority over Robert along with her mental illness of alcoholism. She seems as the person who would discourage a relationship that has been buried already and thinks it’s hopeless to keep someone alive in your memories after their death. It puts a new thought into my mind of the storyline and definitely benefits me in reading this selection of his blog.