Summary vs. Analysis

Summary vs. Analysis

“On the Rainy River”

Summary:

            Tim O’Brien talks about his way of becoming a soldier. He tells the reader about his life, going to college, his job, and his girl friend. He goes home after work one day and receives his draft notice. His body goes into a mental overload and shuts down. He has an extremely important decision to make that will change his life as he knows it. He has two choices and both will change his life. Tim can either go to war in Vietnam or flee to Canada. One day after work Tim goes on a drive searching for something to help him in this difficult decision. After all his driving he ends up at this lodge. An old man runs the lodge and allows Tim to stay. The old man doesn’t ask any questions and allows Tim to fall into his everyday chores. Tim works for the old man for a couple days until the old man decides to take him fishing. Once they get to the river Tim breaks down, and cries until he can’t anymore. Tim leaves the next morning knowing what his choice is.

Analysis:

            Tim is an average college student, balancing school, a job and a girlfriend. When Tim receives his draft notice he is angered because he has a life. He does not want to give up his life at home and go to fight in Vietnam because he does believe the war is right. Tim thinks that people who support the war should go and fight it in full. Life is unfair to Tim because he is left with two options that both require his life to change. Tim does not want to go to war in Vietnam and he does not want to flee to Canada. He takes a trip and comes to a lodge where he believes the old man was his savior. The old man takes him to a river where Tim makes the final decision. Tim considers himself a coward and goes to Vietnam to fight the war he does not agree with.

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