In 1968, the great country of America was divided and the controversial Vietnam war was the reason for that. In the story, On The Rainy River by Tim O’Brien, the author receives a notice from the government informing him that he has been drafted to fight in Vietnam. Tim O'Brien must now make the choice to either run to Canada and bring shame to his family or serve in one of the most deadly wars and hope to survive. This essay will explain why Tim O’Brien made a more honorable choice by serving in the war then running from it. Tim O’Brien was drafted for multiple reasons. Many people did not like the idea of this war, which made it difficult to find people willing to volunteer. The draft was brought back up so the United
States would not run out of soldiers in the Vietnam war. The draft targeted healthy people who were in between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six. Tim O’Brien just happened to be a healthy, twenty-one year old, who was not attending college at the time, making him a huge target for the draft. Receiving the draft tore Tim O’Brien between running for Canada and serving in the war. As he traveled up towards Canada, he began to rethink his choice “It was a kind of schizophrenia. A moral split. I couldn’t make up my mind”(1005) he proclaimed. As he reached the border he stopped and stayed at a lodge by the name of Tip Top Lodge. As Tim O’Brien stayed at the lodge and helped the elderly owner, he began to realize that running from his fear was a terrible choice. Tim O’Brien went fishing with the owner, and as they got near the shore of Canada Tim O’Brien broke down. “I tried to smile, except I was crying”(1014) he wrote.