The Influence of War: Xavier, Elijah, and Their Conflict Bathiya Ranasinghe 11th Grade

There is no glory in war; it only tears relationships apart and nobody returns home unscathed. In Joseph Boyden’s novel Three Day Road, the true horrors and realities of war are revealed. Through the characters of Xavier and Elijah, the historical fiction demonstrates that war leads to conflict within one's closest relations. Xavier and Elijah are the best of friends and share a great bond of brotherhood, however, the war brings out the worst in them. They are introduced to the western culture and become exposed to several addictive elements. The most devastating of all is morphine which causes Elijah to lose his morality. This leads to conflict between Xavier and Elijah because of their contrasting beliefs. Xavier is a much more traditional individual who resists the European influence whereas Elijah embraces it. This cross-cultural conundrum leads to disagreement within the two companions sparking their competitive nature. As the two battle out to determine who is the dominant figure, the influence of the war and European ideologies on the two are clearly demonstrated. Although Xavier and Elijah share a deep emotional bond, their relationship is slowly torn apart during the war through the use of morphine, feelings of...