Tim O Brien On The Rainy River Summary

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Most of us would face a dilemma of choosing to stand on our own moral grounds or to conform to the beliefs of society because we are uncertain about the prioritization of the two conflicting choices. Those conflicts emerge between people’s ideals and the reality. O’Brien, the protagonist of the short story “On the Rainy River” by Tim O’Brien, receives a government letter summoning him to fight in the bloody war even though he thinks the very existence of the war is wrong. Through O’Brien’s internal conflict, the author suggests that people’s understanding of their roles are not always the key factors affecting their final decisions. Initially, O’Brien expresses his dissatisfaction with authority as well as his ideal role in society and eventually …show more content…
As a result, he would feel just as much shame for going to the war since he had confessed his convictions at the beginning. It is a different type of shame. It is the shame of someone who had cowardly forfeited his moral beliefs for selfish desires such as reputation. The meat packaging plant is a place of comparative conditions to the war - bloody. Through O’Brien’s emotional and physically isolated state after two months of working at the plant, the violent bloody nature of the plant that mimicked the war is metaphorically represented by the bloody pig-stink, which soaked into O’Brien’s skin and hair that was impossible to wash off. It acts as a burden, constantly pressuring O’Brien, reminding him that once he kill one soldier, the stink and the blood on his hands will not go away; it will always be the stain in his memory and his past. The inhuman conditions not only oppressed his morality but forced him to decide at the same time. O’Brien mentions that there are times where “[he] thought [he] had gone off the psychic edge”, and the pig plant is one of those times. The turning point occurs when he leaves for home without giving notice and felt a leaking sensation and “something very warm and precious spilling out…”. Even though there was imageries about the physical pain …show more content…
“[He] feared the war” but “[he] also feared exile”, and even though O’Brien recognizes which of the traits is nobler, he does not know which of the two he feared more, or more precisely, does he have the courage to pursue what is right and overcome his fears. In understanding a person’s role, it is not to recognize the righteous act, but to be courageous and take actions in pursuing it. In O’Brien’s case, he comes across two of his most valued but conflicting values and recognizes it is not a win-win situation; in gaining the reputation for bravery would mean O’Brien has to sacrifice his moralities, and in gaining self-affirmation he losses his patriot title. In both cases he is a hero, and in both cases he is a coward. There is no right or wrong answer, but only the role he chooses to be. With the consequences clear in mind, and with Elroy clearing all external factors that may affect his decision for him, O’Brien “understood that [he] would not do what [he] should do”. In O’Brien’s perspective, it is right and heroic to turn away from the war and follow his moral beliefs. However, he choses to be the shameful coward and attends the war because at his final realization moment, he realizes that he does not have enough courage to face all the public shame, and his perspectives of the war and the old heroic image of himself are all just a “threadbare pipe
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