Tim O’Brien’s semi-autobiographical short story On the Rainy River documents his personal struggles after being drafted for the Vietnam War. Throughout the story, Tim encounters situations that persuade him to abandon the draft and flee to Canada. But after careful reconsideration, Tim decides to go to war due to his fear of shame. As a result, his story illustrates the fact that most decisions are made due to emotional factors and not logic. Moreover, His decision was explained by the societal pressures put on him by his family, community and country. First of all, Tim’s decision to go to war is influenced by his family. He feared disappointing them and worried that they would face harassment by the community. Furthermore, Tim could not guarantee
