Why Moving to Canada Doesn't Solve Your Problems

          "On the Rainy River" describes the mental dilemma suffered from a 21-year-old Tim O'Brien after he finds out he has been drafted into the Vietnam War. The piece serves as a passageway into O'Brien's head and allows us to fully comprehend his thoughts, and why he made the decisions he did. What we are left with is a truly compelling piece that accurately highlights the cruelties of war, and the ravaging effects is has on one's mind.
          O'Brien tells this account in an ashamed tone, his goal being to make the reader feel sorry for him and realize the role shame plays in war. A fantastic example of this tone is seen at the beginning of the text when O'Brien tells the reader that he has never told anyone this story before. He states that he has had to live with the "shame" of these memories for years and that telling it would cause "embarrassment." He even says that this story serves as a "confession," making it clear that he does not want to tell it, and that it is burdensome. Another example of this ashamed tone is seen in the last paragraph of the passage when O'Brien calls himself a coward for going to the war. It shows that he feels guilty for defying his own moral principles and joining in the war effort.
          Another way O'Brien creates his ashamed tone and emphasizes the embarrassment his character is through his diction and language. O'Brien uses extremely descriptive language to help the reader see and feel exactly what his character does throughout the story. An example of this is, "Even after a hot bath, scrubbing hard, the stink was always there - like old bacon, or sausage, a dense greasy pig-stink that soaked deep into my skin and hair." This sentence alone not only helps you imagine the aroma of the pig, but it emphasizes the struggles and hardships O'Brien endures, creating a deeper sense of sympathy for his character. The use of simile in the description is also effectively done as it relates the smell of pigs to several foods which are easy for the reader to comprehend and relate to. Another descriptive section of the text reads, "I remember opening up the letter, scanning the first few lines, feeling the blood go thick behind my eyes. I remember a sound in my head. I wasn't thinking, just a silent howl." This quote acts as a bridge between the reader and exactly what O'Brien was doing and feeling in this specific moment in time. All of these elements coming together form an unmatched sense of pathos in the story, making the reader understand and connect with O'Brien, and understand how much the draft destroyed him inside.
          This sense was also heightened with a series of questions that helped O'Brien relate with the reader and get them to see the events through his eyes. These questions are presented in a single paragraph but make the text all the more relatable to the reader. Some of these are, "What would you do?", "Would you think about your family and your childhood and your dreams and all you're leaving behind?", and "Would you cry as I did?" These quotes aid the reader in making out what O'Brien was feeling in this situation and making us wonder what we would do if we were in his position.
          Ethos and logos is where this piece lacks. This, unfortunately, is a consequence of fictional writing. The only ethos in this is found when O'Brien introducing himself in the beginning of the story. He does do a decent job gaining the trust of the reader, however. He tells them a story that he hasn't told anyone before, creating a better relationship between himself and the reader. In terms of logos, the only thing even close is the realism seen in the story. Having a story that is so believable and could actually happen in real life makes it all the more impactful to the reader. Although ethos and logos aren't exactly necessary in a creative piece such as this one, they can sometimes be beneficial, as seen here.
          Reading this piece has a profound impact on the reader. It encapsulates us through highly precise, descriptive language, and connects us through emotional ques intended to create sympathy. All of these methods made the story exceptionally effective in teaching the reader different lessons. It teaches us to fight for what you believe in through civil disobedience, and it demonstrates the harsh realities of war by showing the damaging effects it had on O'Brien.

Moving Canada does not solve your problems either...