Another symbol in the story is that of the river. The river represents hope, the possibility of rebirth. The Motorcycle Boy wonders if the Siamese fighting fish would be quite so aggressive in an environment that is more natural than a pet store. He doesn't know for sure, and so the river symbolizes only possible hope. The Rumble Fish may continue to fight each other to the death in the river, but there's always a chance that they may not, and there's only one way to find out.

What applies to the fish could equally apply to the disaffected youths in the story. Since time immemorial, an unresolved debate has raged as to whether nature or nurture is the most important factor in human behavior. In Rumble Fish ,...

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