"On The Rainy River": Archetypal Theories in Tim O'Brien's Short Story
Archetypes such as the hero’s journey, mentors, and rivers are used significantly to acquaint the reader to the story. So let's research with archetypes in the "On The Rainy River - Archetypal Essay" paper. O’Brien’s journey represents his uncertainty and the resulting voyage where he ponders his decisions. A wise old mentor helps O’Brien along the journey to contemplate the future. The river represents a place of calmness, which permits O’Brien the choice of his outcome. The story “On the Rainy River” incorporates many aspects of Archetypical theory, as there are notable qualities in each archetype that highlight familiar scenarios.
O’Brien goes on a Hero’s journey archetype where there is a life altering decision to be made by leaving known surroundings, he realizes his convictions, and returns with a decision. Firstly, O’Brien is not typical hero archetype who is courageous and makes bold choices, as he “feared the war, yes, but he also feared exile”. Unlike the Lone Ranger, he is not courageous as he is ashamed and struggles with the conflict of military service and possibly death. Furthermore, O’Brien fears the war as he “began thinking seriously about Canada. ” This results in O’Brien running away in a panic and starting his journey “at high speed and crash through and keep on running. ” The reader joins along the journey as the main character contemplates his future. In the story, this is where O’Brien meets a mentor who will guide him to his decision. The journey concludes, as he takes responsibility for his final decision and returns “home again”. O’Brien’s journey allows the reader to connect with the struggle, as we travel along with the character’s thoughts, and the resolution of the story.
The mentor archetype is represented through “Elroy Berdahl: eighty-one years old, skinny and shrunken and mostly bald. ” who acts as a father figure for O’Brien. Elroy is the typical mentor figure who appears when the main character is in trouble, as O’Brien asked for a place to stay Elroy “nodded, led him out to one of the cabins, and dropped a key in his hand. ” Elroy provides a calming presence and helps him by boat towards Canada. Unlike O’Brien’s parents who he feared “losing the respect”, Elroy “never put him in a position that required lies or denials”. Elroy instead helps to compose O’Brien by speaking slowly and never judging him. O’Brien states that one thing that he remembered about Elroy’s character was that he was “willful, almost ferocious silence. ” Elroy sacrifices his time and brings O’Brien across the river so that final decision can be made. Once the decision is finalized, he then leaves Elroy, who “nodded as if he already knew”. This wise old man provides guidance and once the main character decides, the mentor leaves to allow O’Brien to continue his journey.
The river is a nature archetype that represents a crossing from one shore to another, much like a choice between the draft or fleeing to Canada. As expected, the mentor Elroy brings O’Brien to the river, where a decision must be made, while they “passed into Canadian waters, across that dotted line between two different worlds”. O’Brien reaches the climax of the story, where he realized he is overcome by shame as he “couldn't tolerate it. I couldn't endure the mockery, or the disgrace, or the patriotic ridicule. ” He finalizes his decision and joins the war as O’Brien states, “I submitted. I would go to the war”. The river acts as a symbol that the main character must face his life decision, which concludes with a surprising ending to join the war.
There are many qualities of Archetypical theory in the story “On the Rainy River” that highlight familiar scenarios for the reader. The journey is popular in many texts, where it draws in the reader to accompany the main character to their final decision. Along the journey, important characters such as Elroy the mentor or father figure provides calm direction and allows O’Brien to contemplate his decision. The river is used by O’Brien as a decision to cross into freedom but finds that he can get close, but his shame never allows him to fully fulfill his original plan. Archetypes are represented through the Hero’s journey, the role of Mentors, and the separation of rivers.
