“On The Rainy River” Analysis Essay

The short floor On the showery River is an integral chapter in the memoir The Things They Carried written by William Timothy OBrien. The short base is written through the perspective of OBrien in present day and as a raw serviceman faced with a draft notice for the Vietnam War. In On the Rainy River, OBrien portrays the vastness of bravery of individuals in the society through the r discoverine of symbolism, powerful t one(a), reflective point of view, narrative devices, and through the reoccurring theme of courage. In the short invention, OBrien uses symbolism to depict the religious aspect of the Rainy River, a watercourse which segregates the land of Minnesota and Canada, a divide that tested OBriens bravery to either enlist in or flee the Vietnam War. OBrien states that the Rainy River . . . separated one life from an different . . . the cold sprayed against his face . . . as they . . . passed into Canadian waters, across that dotted line between two different worlds . . . (1012). The Rainy River symbolizes the rebirth of OBrien into a new world water epitomizes the purity and renewal of a new identity.This symbol adds great significance to the anecdote because it portrays the man vs. self-conflict of OBrien he has to choose a life of fearing the U.S government in exile, or a life of hostility and bloodshed in a contendfare that he does not support. The authors use of symbolism allows the ratifier to construe the variation in OBriens point of view as he flees to the land of Canada to evade the drafting that in fear, he gains the courage and strength to return to the U.S and face the inevitable struggle. Susan Farrell communicates in The Vietnam in Me that even though the juvenility narrator believed the war was morally wrong, he was otiose to defy the traditions and expectations he had been raised with he was afraid of what people would say about him should he flee the draft, and he could not . . . leave behind everything he knew and loved. The narrator considers that he is reared to take responsibility and is expected of his family and the society to do the right thing join the war even though he does not support the battle, OBrien feels pressured by the fear of shame and embarrassment of not enlisting.Although the symbolism of the story reflects the authors self-conflict, tone also enhances the significance of the decision he has to make. OBriencreates the tone of fear in the short story he reflects on his cowardice and dreads the set of his life if he were caught. OBrien expresses that there are instances in which he is overwhelmed by fear He stays up at night envisaging macrocosm chased by the border patrol and helicopters he sweats while envisioning himself fleeing through the woods and being thrown to the ground by police. He feels dizzy with sorrow, ungodliness, and regret for parting the country and not enlisting into the war he is troubled by the lack of sleep and the sickness that consumes him. (1009) The tone is created by the vitrines personal emotions towards his life decisions and his dread upon the events that are foreseeable.The tone deepens the meaning of courage because it allows for a reflection on what could have contributed to the fear and how the characters courage would ultimately overcome it. The tone of fear supplemented to the importance of OBriens decision to escape the Vietnam War he is acting out of fearhe, was no soldier . . . he hated dirt . . . and mosquitos . . . the sight of blood made him queasy, and he . . . didnt know a rifle from a slingshot. (OBrien 1003). Bobbie Ann Mason observes that, the litany reifies the mavin of constancy the men experienced constant conditions, constant fear and apprehension, constant movement, and constant burdens (Mason). Mason recognizes that the narrators use of a long and insistent list of complaints and problems enables the reader to perceive the burden that he feels. The tone presented in this story allows for depth and apprehension that heightens the anxiety for future events.The point of view in the short story is presented in first person by using first person narration, the author is enabled to express his internal emotion throughout the story. OBrien perceives that certain blood was being shed for uncertain reasons he saw no unity of purpose, no consensus on matters of philosophy or history or law . . . facts were shrouded in uncertainty . . . was it a civil war , a war of national liberation or simple aggression (1002). OBrien expresses his personal views on the war there is no purpose for it to occur or for him to engage in the battle. Tegmark states in The Perspectives of Other Characters that there is relative importance . . . of the perspective of . . . Tim OBrien as the protagonist . . . and that of what I call primarynarration in . . .The Things They Carried. . . OBrien functions as a focalizer, constituting the main perspective from which the reader perceives the story. Tim OBrien i s the protagonist and the primary narrator he is able to contribute to the story as the main perspective which allows him to provide memories and anecdotes, thus deepening the plot.The first person account gives the narrative credibility because the protagonist is telling the story he can recall last(prenominal) events that relate to the occurrence or contemplate on what may ensue next. The narrator experienced the delirious battle and fall back to Canada first-hand in turn, this interesting relationship gives the reader a direct account of the topic. OBrien writes that he felt something break open in his chest . . . but it was real, he knows that much, it was a sensible rupture- a cracking-leaking-popping feeling (1006). OBrien speaks directly to the reader presenting the reader an emotional perception. His narration provides a contemplative and insightful voice while relating events that have happened he describes what is learned from the experience and how it has affected his life. The use of flashbacks is prominent throughout the short story OBrien switches between the past and present tense throughout the story to narrate his memoir.By using flashbacks, shifts and reflective moments are created. OBrien states that he remembers that when walking out of his house in the year 1968 to leave for Canada, he cautiously observed all of his familiar possessions that he would leave behind, including his life (1006). This scene reveals the use of flashback and enhances the meaning of his separation from the life he had known he feels expressively attached to his home country. This man vs. self-conflict of whether to stay or go lingers when he sees the chrome toaster, the telephone, and the bright sunshine that sparkled in the room. OBrien uses recollections throughout the story to coordinated former events that contribute meaning and sentiment. Susan Farrell states that the short story alternates between present-day narration and the scenes that take place duri ng 1968 . . . the flashbacks . . . explain how OBrien arrived at his present circumstances.The author uses flashbacks throughout the story to allow the reader to visualize the shifts in his voice and the change in his views between the past and the present. OBrien creates pathos towards the protagonist by expressing the problematicalships of his decision of leaving his lifein the United States for a life of hiding in Canada. OBrien mentions remembering . . . self-pity . . . driving aimlessly around town . . . feeling sorry for himself . . . paralyzed . . . feeling guilt and sorrow (1003-4). OBrien references his emotional pressure to gain the readers sympathy by stating and so he sat in the bow of the boat and cried . . . it was loud now . . . loud, hard crying (1016). He provides his audience the capability to commiserate by giving the reader a view into his distressed core.Werlock states that OBrien was . . . faced with a choice and imagining a host of people, real and imaginary, on both shores encouraging him one way or the other, the fear of shame holds him back from jumping overboard and swimming to Canada . . . OBrien cries in the boat over his future . . . The reader sympathizes with the protagonist because he is afraid of what people might think of him the reader is placed in his home and realizes that OBrien is in a painful position.OBrien presents the themes of courage and cowardice throughout the short story. OBrien states that it was a kind of schizophrenia . . . a moral dispel . . . he couldnt make up his mind . . . he feared the war . . . exile . . . walking away from his whole history. . . losing the respect of his parents . . . the law. . . ridicule and censure (1005). Bloom states that when the narrator writes, This is one story Ive never told before, it suggests that readers come to learn that the narrators reluctance may stem from what he perceives as revealing weakness his emotional breakdown, his lack of courage actually to desert, and a fear of his family and friends learning of his weakness. OBrien portrays the theme of courage and cowardice to reflect on his decision to either reckon or flee the Vietnam War.He was split between choosing a life of war or fear. Because of his fear of shame and humiliation of his friends and family, cowardice consumes him and he is unable to will himself across the Rainy River into Canada. His cowardice is a vital part of the story because it conjures internal conflict, hallucinations, fear, pathos, and emotion throughout the story. The theme of shame is existent throughout the short story. In the beginning of the narrative, OBrien reveals that he has never told this story before because of the shame and embarrassment that he would have felt if he had. OBrien states what it came down to, stupidly, was asense of shame , hot, stupid shame . . . he was ashamed of his conscience . . . of doing the right thing (1009-10). OBrien dreads the indignity and humiliation of his friends, fami ly, and people of great importance if he does not enlist into the warHe states that when he visualizes people of relativity and of importance on the sides of the river urging him toward one shore or the other he feels himself redden. He could not risk the disdain, ignominy, or derision and that he would go to war because he was ashamed not to. (1016) Werlock avers that when Berdahl takes OBrien fishing on the Rainy River, . . . he is confronted with the decision between one life or the other . . . the fear of shame holds him back. The importance of the role of shame develops throughout the story it is the motivating factor that prevents OBrien from leaving to Canada. Shame held him back because he did not want his family to feel that he was a raised to become a coward. The author uses shame to enhance the emotional depth of the story the shame compels the reader to recognize the struggle of his situation.In the end, OBrien overcomes the barrier of shame and acquires the courage to r eturn to the United States to fight in the Vietnam War. In the short story On the Rainy River, William Timothy OBrien explores the importance of courage and shame when he evades his draft notice for the Vietnam War by fleeing to Canada. Throughout the story, the reader gains a sense of emotional perspective for what draftees distress and anticipate through OBriens use of symbolism, tone, point of view, flashback, and the themes of courage and shame. OBriens decision to be reborn into a new world is reflectively symbolized by the Rainy River and a penetrating tone of fear provides apprehension and unease upon the reader. The use of the first person point of view and the narrative devices of flashbacks and pathos allows OBrien to recall the past and to provide emotion. OBrien overcomes his fear of shame which ultimately enables him to gain his courage and fight in the Vietnam War.Works CitedBloom, Harold, ed. The Things They Carried. The Things They Carried, Blooms Guides. Philadelphi a Chelsea House Publishing, 2004. Blooms Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Farrell, Susan. OBrien, Tim. Critical Companion to Tim OBrien A Literary Reference toHis Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York Facts On File, Inc., 2011. Blooms Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 28 Sept. 2014 Farrell, Susan. The Vietnam in Me. Critical Companion to Tim OBrien A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York Facts On File, Inc., 2011. Blooms Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. OBrien, Tim. On The Rainy River. Literature Grade 10. Ed. Janet Allen. Evanston Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2010. 999-1016. Print. Tegmark, Mats. The Perspectives of Other Characters. In the Shoes of a Soldier Communication in Tim OBriens Vietnam Narratives (Uppsala University, 1998) pp. 24571. Quoted as The Perspectives of Other Characters in Bloom, Harold, ed. The Things They Carried, Blooms Modern Critical Interpretations. New York Che lsea House Publishing, 2011. Blooms Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 27 Sept. 2014. Werlock, Abby H. P. On the Rainy River. The Facts On File Companion to the American Short Story, Second Edition. New York Facts On File, Inc., 2009.Blooms Literature. Facts On File, Inc. Web. 27 Sept. 2014.