Rainy River

Idealism is the pursuit of noble principles in life; it helps define individuals actions and gives them reason to believe in something. Idealism can help them face truth in their life. Tim O’Brien addresses in his short story “On the Rainy River” the significance of idealism and truth an individuals life though his character Tim. Tim faces the clashing of idealisms and realizes the importance of truth in ones life. When an individual is put in a situation, they must focus on the how they can…

machina to O'Brien's history, attempting to guide his decision through opportunity. "It struck me then that he must've planned it. I'll never be certain, of course, but I think he meant to bring me up against the realities, to guide me across the river and to take me to the edge and to stand a kind of vigil as I chose a life for myself" (O'Brien 56). It was an opportunity to decide how his fate is woven, a decision that left O'Brien in a moral split. He was in swimming proximity of the Canadian…

individuals struggle to decide whether to follow the masses and do what they are told and what is expected of them or to break free and choose to make their own path. This internal conflict is further developed in Tim O’Brien’s short story, “On the Rainy River.” O’Brien uses the protagonist of the story, Tim, a fictional version of himself to illustrate the dilemma faced by those who are forced to make this choice. Sometimes, when individuals are forced with a difficult decision, the best option…

Tim O’Brien begins his account of ‘On the Rainy River`by admitting that his prior knowledge of how he defined what a hero looked like in his early twenties was questionable. He confesses to being uncomfortable in even writing the story he is about to embark on as he knows that upon divulging his true inner character he must confront the young man he once was. Through his honest account he must face the brutal truth of his emotions and actions. Throughout the story we see a battle of…

Chapter Analysis: On the Rainy River Claim 1: O’Brien undergoes a lot of emotions throughout this chapter: Desolation, helplessness and angst. He wants his readers to feel the same things that he felt on the Rainy River and everywhere in between. Reasoning and evidence: In the chapter, the feeling of desolation or loneliness is a familiar face with Tim O’Brien. When he decided to leave his own lonely home with only his mom and dad, he arrived an almost abandoned fishing lodge. The man he met…

“On the Rainy River” is a story describing the narrator, Tim O’Brien, conforming to the society surrounding him; while continuing to question internally. O’Briens drastic tension of self morals alongside the differentiated pressure of conforming to the society’s desire for him to fight for his country, has left O’Brien with the fear of exile, abandonment, the fear of being ashamed; all of which, are considered far worse than the fear of death. O’Briens inner turmoil is of direct correlation to…

coward is someone who gives into an aggressor without any retaliation. But in the social situation it may just come down to how much you allow people to ridicule you without even the slightest bit of resistance.Yet through the passage of “On the Rainy River” there is no way…

Author Tim O’Brien fictionalized himself in a short story called “On the Rainy River” which shows the battle that frequently occurred to a recipient of the draft notice as the war dragged on. In this story, there are many connotations to war and the American soldier persona. Tim battles with a difficult decision that was not uncommon during the late sixties and early seventies. In O’Brien’s short story, Canada was the land of the free, since military duty is optional, and home of the cowards, a…

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…

Attention Grabber: In our society, we all long for a feeling of acceptance by our peers and we detest the feeling of being left on the outside. Introduce literature used: On a Rainy River by Tim O’Brien Thesis: Acceptance of plays a role in the responsibilities that we put upon ourselves, this is demonstrated through the character of Tim O'Brien, metaphor and tone of the story. Body Body Paragraph 1 Main Idea: Tim went against his personal values and took on the responsibility of fighting in…