Tim O Brien On The Rainy River Summary

What would you do? Are you more likely to follow your own ideals or the ideals of the society? These questions are the hardest kinds of questions to answer truthfully because it is impossible to predict how one is going to act in situations that test their courage and moral compass. Although people claim that they will always do what they feel is right, this is simply untrue. People will always follow societal norms because they are the backbone of society and what people feel most comfortable doing. A piece of literature that exemplifies this On the Rainy River by Tim O’Brien; a short story that describes the events that occur after a young man is given a draft notice for the Vietnam War. Throughout the story he struggles with whether or not
At this point the readers may predict that Obrein has decided to reject the values of his society and follow his win ideas; what he is really doing is driving away from the shame of having to face his parents and peers and tell them that he does not have what it takes to go to war. There he was faced with a moral split, should he cross the border into Canada? Or stay and abandon his morals completely? This is a significant part in the story because even though he drives almost all the way into Canada he cannot because the fear he harbours. This is an example of how people ideals leave them completely in hard situations. It is human instinct to want to fit in and be accepted because that meant a greater chance for survival. It is against human nature to reject social beliefs and only those with the most amount of courage are able to do it. This is why Obrien is so frustrated with himself; he thought he could “simply tap a secret reservoir of courage.” The saving grace for O’Brien is when he arrives at the Tip Top lodge and meets Elroy Berdahl, the man who would help him face the decision that he knew had to be made.

The last test for Obrien came when he was fishing with Elroy Berdahl. Elroy Berdahl did not judge him like the rest of the world did and instead let him make his own decisions about what would be the best for him. He is forced to become cowardly and abandon his morals because of his fear of reject from his peers. When it came time to make the final decision on whether he should run away or give up and go to war Obrien submitted to the fear of judgment from the society. “the whole town, the whole universe- I couldn’t risk the