"On The Rainy River"

"On the Rainy River", by Tim O'Brien, is about a part of Tim's life after he is drafted to the United States Army and has to go to Vietnam. Tim didn't like this because he doesn't even believe in this war and he thinks he is "too good for the war". So he attempts to run for the border of Canada to try and get away from going to Vietnam. He meets a man named Elroy, who takes him in and asks no questions why he was there or anything like that. Tim stays there for 6 days, then he feels he would be judged for deserting, so he goes to the war.

While Tim was with Elroy, the cabin was right beside a river.

Elroy's cabin was right beside a river.

Elroy enjoys fishing and quietness.

This is what Tim, in the beginning of the story, tried to stay away from; the Vietnam War.

Before Tim decided to flee the country to Canada, he took a look at his kitchen and remembered all of his memories in the house, and then he left.

If it were not for the war, Tim could had went to Harvard and been very successful. All that went away when he got the draft notice.

This is a draft notice during the Vietnam War for the person to get an Armed Forces Physical Examination to see if he is eligible to enter the military.

This is a protest showing that many people disagree with the United States going to Vietnam, and these people want the troops out of Vietnam.

Before Tim went to the war, or attempted to dessert, Tim worked at a pig slaughterhouse.

Tim did editorials stating his opinion on Vietnam and what he thinks should had happened.

Elroy and Tim chopped wood a lot.

While Tim was deciding to desert, he showed a lot of cowardliness, for leaving his country and his family, to save his life.

Tim said that he felt a rupture in his chest when he was deciding to desert.
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Tim and Elroy went on a boat and fished.