1. What conflict does O'Brien face in this excerpt? How do you know?
O’Brien faces a moral and psychological conflict: he must decide whether to go to war in Vietnam or avoid the draft by fleeing to Canada. This is a classic internal conflict, as it pits his sense of duty, fear, and conscience against his desire for self-preservation and moral resistance.
Evidence from the text:
- “My conscience told me to run, but some irrational and powerful force was resisting, like a weight pushing me toward the war.” → shows the tension between wanting to escape and feeling pressure to comply.
- “Hot, stupid shame. I did not want people to think badly of me.” → reveals social and personal pressures influencing his decision.
- His obsession with the border, Canada, and the Rainy River indicates his mental struggle and the literal ‘border’ between choices.
2. How does On the Rainy River differ from the other chapters before it?
- Tone and intimacy: Unlike many chapters that depict combat or external events, this chapter is highly personal and introspective. It focuses on O’Brien’s internal thought process rather than external action.
- Focus on moral choice: Earlier chapters often deal with the war’s physical or emotional consequences; this chapter deals with the ethical dilemma before the war even begins.
- Slower, reflective pacing: The chapter dwells on details of the Tip Top Lodge, Elroy Berdahl, and O’Brien’s thoughts over six days, contrasting with more action-driven chapters.
- Exploration of shame and fear: There’s an emphasis on psychological and social pressures, not just physical danger.
3. Why do you think O'Brien did not lead with this chapter even though it is chronologically first?
- Narrative impact: Starting with the war itself captures the reader’s attention through action and intensity. Beginning with the moral dilemma might feel slower or less dramatic.
- Creates suspense and context: By placing this chapter later, O’Brien allows the reader to understand the stakes and consequences of war first, making his dilemma more poignant when revealed.
- Thematic layering: The chapter works as a reflection that helps readers understand the emotional and ethical complexity behind the actions they’ve already read about in earlier chapters.