On The Rainy River
Diana Nguyen
English 2 Pre-AP 2
5 November 2013
On The Rainy River prompt In Tim O’Brien’s “On the Rainy River”, Tim is presented with a conflict that would change his life depending on which choice he makes. Tim narrates the story in a mix of present day and flashbacks, being that the voice of the younger Tim O'Brien is less mature and less morally complex than present day Tim. In the summer of 1968, Tim, a recent college graduate, receives a draft notice to fight in The Vietnam War. This is where the conflict begins. Tim O'Brien, while not exactly a pacifist, does not support the war. He almost feels as if he is too good to fight in the war, describing himself as "too smart, too compassionate, too everything…[he] had the world-Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude and president of the student body, [he even had] a full ride scholarship for grad studies at Harvard." (1003) His world had suddenly come to a complete halt and he has to make the decision whether or not to go to war. Tim mentions that "[that if our nation was using military force to] stop a Hitler, or some comparable evil, [he] told [himself] that in such circumstances [he] would've willingly marched off to battle…..The problem, though, was that a draft board did not let you choose your war." (110) Tim can go off and fight a war he does not believe in or leave his life behind and fleeing to Canada. Tim talks about how much he detests how some people who mindlessly comply to the war efforts, not fully understanding it, just "blind, thoughtless, automatic acquiescence to it all, their love-it-or-leave-it platitudes" (1005) He hated that they were "sending [him] off to fight a war they did not understand." (1005) He holds them all personally responsible to the fact that he has to make the difficult choice. Tim fears condemnation, mockery and exile. Tim lives in a "conservative little spot on the prairie" (1005) and as he begins to seriously consider running off to Canada, he could already hear the
English 2 Pre-AP 2
5 November 2013
On The Rainy River prompt In Tim O’Brien’s “On the Rainy River”, Tim is presented with a conflict that would change his life depending on which choice he makes. Tim narrates the story in a mix of present day and flashbacks, being that the voice of the younger Tim O'Brien is less mature and less morally complex than present day Tim. In the summer of 1968, Tim, a recent college graduate, receives a draft notice to fight in The Vietnam War. This is where the conflict begins. Tim O'Brien, while not exactly a pacifist, does not support the war. He almost feels as if he is too good to fight in the war, describing himself as "too smart, too compassionate, too everything…[he] had the world-Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude and president of the student body, [he even had] a full ride scholarship for grad studies at Harvard." (1003) His world had suddenly come to a complete halt and he has to make the decision whether or not to go to war. Tim mentions that "[that if our nation was using military force to] stop a Hitler, or some comparable evil, [he] told [himself] that in such circumstances [he] would've willingly marched off to battle…..The problem, though, was that a draft board did not let you choose your war." (110) Tim can go off and fight a war he does not believe in or leave his life behind and fleeing to Canada. Tim talks about how much he detests how some people who mindlessly comply to the war efforts, not fully understanding it, just "blind, thoughtless, automatic acquiescence to it all, their love-it-or-leave-it platitudes" (1005) He hated that they were "sending [him] off to fight a war they did not understand." (1005) He holds them all personally responsible to the fact that he has to make the difficult choice. Tim fears condemnation, mockery and exile. Tim lives in a "conservative little spot on the prairie" (1005) and as he begins to seriously consider running off to Canada, he could already hear the