Black Robe

bhih;pk[pkk][ nk of sulphur and chlorine."(p.125) The unfriendly nature of air is seen when Robert is on convoy duty, "The air was foul with thick green fog. There was a smell that Robert could not decipher."(p.79) Whenever Robert breathes in, he can remember the safety that home provided, "Slithering over the crater's rim---a pale blue fog appeared. Like a veil his mother might've worn."(p.137) Robert tries to save the life of the man with the broken legs by giving him his mask, "Put that over his face."(p.139) In the same scene, Robert allows the others to breathe by ordering the men to urinate on their handkerchiefs and placing them over their faces. Robert brings air from his childhood to the infected atmosphere of the war,

Robert Ross was born into a rich family, in a great big house with a white picket fence. The reason for Robert's innocence was perhaps his seemingly ideal surroundings. Maybe the fact that everything was provided for Robert caused him to become dependant on the image of an ideal world, the thought that corruption was not a reality. Or maybe he chose to block out the bad, not admitting its existence, as with his mom's drinking. Whatever the reason, Robert saw the world as a peaceful place, white and pure. Even such common and obvious things such as sex, Robert did not yearn for

Robert's mind is fragile due to his inexperience. He is easily tainted and easily conforms to his surroundings. Almost instantly a completely different Robert emerges. A man who before tried his best to avoid the opposite sex was now having rough sex with a woman he hardly knew

Nationality: Canadian. Born: Toronto, Ontario, 1930. Education: Rosedale Public School, Toronto; St. Andrews College, Aurora, Ontario; Jarvis Collegiate, Toronto; Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, 1950-53; Central School of Speech and Drama, London. Career: Stage, television,