Chapter 4: On the Rainy River Summary
The fourth story of The Things They Carried is “On the Rainy River.” The narrator, Tim O’Brien, explains that he is about to tell a story that he has never told anyone before. It begins in 1968 while O’Brien is in college. O’Brien imagines himself as a hero that would certainly stand up to evil. Though he has not done anything heroic, he tells himself that he could save up his courage for a time when he might really need it, a theory that the narrator looks back on as “comfortable.”
He is opposed to the Vietnam War and he has even written some articles in the school’s newspaper against it. After all, it was uncertain why the war should be fought, whereas it was certain that men would die. He could list any number of reasons, ranging from historical to political to philosophical, explaining why the war was wrong. However, looking back, O’Brien admits that his opposition was more like an intellectual activity because he felt no personal danger. On June 17, 1968, the narrator receives his draft notice. He is shocked because he was an excellent student, and had even earned a scholarship to Harvard. He was too good and too smart for the war, and he was a liberal. Why not draft a “back-to-the-stone-age hawk” that supported the war?
That summer, O’Brien works at an Armour meatpacking plant in Worthington, Minnesota. He spends his days as a “Declotter” of pork products, where he works a device like a gun. At night he goes home with the stench of pigs on him. It is difficult getting a date, and he spends the summer alone with his draft notice. At night he drives around town thinking about ways to get out of the war, but knowing that there is no option that he can take. By mid-July, he begins to think about going to Canada. O’Brien’s mind becomes split as he considers his fear of the war and his fear of exile. He fears the way that the people in his hometown, who support the war, will look down on him—even though they only understand it as a simple “war to stop the Communists.”
Finally, O’Brien takes off, driving north toward Canada. He eventually stops at an old fishing resort called Tip Top Lodge. Rainy River is nearby and Canada waits on the other side. Elroy Berdahl, who is eighty-one years old, runs the lodge. He sees O’Brien and lets him have a cabin without question. They spend the next six days together, playing scrabble and working together at splitting wood or other chores, but otherwise not talking. When they discuss the bill, Elroy offers to pay O’Brien for the odd jobs he has done around the lodge. He puts the money into an envelop with “emergency fund” written on it, and O’Brien realizes that Elroy already knows what he is doing at Tip Top Lodge. The next day, they go out on the river, ostensibly to fish, and O’Brien looks at the far shore, Canada.
Although he tries to make himself cross the river, he cannot do it. He explains that he cannot make himself do the right thing: he cannot make himself go to Canada. He cannot face the “mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule.” Instead, he begins to cry in the boat and he returns home before finally going to war. He would return from the war, but his return was not a happy ending. He concludes, “I was a coward. I went to war.”
Expert Q&A
What are three important quotes from the story "On The Rainy River"?
Three important quotes from "On The Rainy River" are: "Certain blood was being shed for uncertain reasons," reflecting the narrator's doubts about the Vietnam War; "I couldn't endure the mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule," explaining why he didn't flee to Canada; and "I was a coward. I went to the war," showing that he considered himself a coward for not acting on his beliefs and succumbing to societal pressure.
What was Tim's summer job in 1968 in "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried?
In "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried, Tim's summer job in 1968 was working at an Armour meatpacking plant in Worthington, Minnesota. His task was to remove blood clots from the necks of dead pigs, a job he detested. The disgusting nature of the job, along with the persistent pig odor, contributed to his sense of isolation and provided ample time for him to contemplate his draft notice and future.
What does the pig plant symbolize in the chapter "On the Rainy River" of "The Things They Carried"?
In the chapter "On the Rainy River" of The Things They Carried, the pig plant symbolizes the violence and chaos surrounding Tim O'Brien's life. The slaughterhouse imagery parallels the horrors of war and his internal conflict about being drafted. The relentless exposure to death and blood at the plant intensifies his feelings of entrapment and ultimately drives him to contemplate fleeing to Canada.
What do the last two sentences of "On the Rainy River" imply about choices and consequences?
When the narrator of "On the Rainy River" writes, "I was a coward. I went to war," he means that the choice that requires real bravery is the choice not to go to war, which subverts American culture's typical way of thinking. Typically, bravery is associated with a willingness to go to war, but for the speaker bravery would mean having the courage to face the consequences of his decision to refuse.
What do Canada, the Rainy River, and war symbolize in "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried?
In "On the Rainy River," Canada symbolizes escape and freedom from military obligations, but also alienation and societal condemnation. The Rainy River represents the boundary between two daunting choices: fleeing to Canada or facing the Vietnam War. The war itself symbolizes moral conflict and political hypocrisy. The river, calm and impartial, underscores the protagonist's inner turmoil and the life-altering decision he faces alone, ultimately choosing to go to war despite his fears.
What effect do the opening sentences of "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried have?
The opening sentences of "On the Rainy River" create a tone of intimacy and confession, hooking readers by implying they will hear a deeply personal and traumatic story. This sets the stage for the narrative by making readers feel they are receiving an exclusive glimpse into the narrator's internal struggle about whether to dodge the draft, influenced heavily by societal expectations and personal shame.
In "On a Rainy River" from The Things They Carried, who does the protagonist think should go to war in his place?
The protagonist believes that those who support the war, such as "back-to-the-stone-age hawks," "dumb jingos," or the families of political figures like LBJ and Westmoreland, should go to war in his place. He feels he is not suited for war due to his academic background, aversion to authority, and opposition to the war, considering himself a "liberal" who should not be drafted.
Why is "On the Rainy River" written in first-person narrative in The Things They Carried?
O'Brien writes "On the Rainy River" from a first-person objective perspective in The Things They Carried to give it a greater sense of immediacy and truthfulness. Consider how it feels to hear about something that happened to someone first-hand, versus hearing someone tell a story that happened to someone they know. The first-person story always seems more trustworthy, perhaps even more emotional and intense.
Do you think Tim's story "On the Rainy River" is true? Why or why not?
I do not think O'Brien's story "On the Rainy River" is true in the sense that it did not really happen to O'Brien himself. However, I don't doubt that the story contains some truth. Something like this must have happened to some young men in real life when they learned they were drafted to fight in a war in which they did not believe.
What is the nature of morality and bravery in "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried?
Setting and Conflict in "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried
In Tim O'Brien's "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried, the narrator faces an internal conflict upon receiving a draft notice for the Vietnam War. Torn between his opposition to the war and societal expectations, he contemplates fleeing to Canada. The setting on the Rainy River symbolizes this decision, as it physically places him between two nations and futures. Ultimately, he chooses to fight, driven by guilt and fear of shame, despite his personal convictions.
Would "On The Rainy River" improve with fewer details? Why or why not?
The story "On the Rainy River" from The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien could not be significantly shortened without lessening its emotional impact. It is succinct and powerful just the way it is.
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