A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean Book Analysis Essay

In the book, A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean we are introduced to two characters. Their names are Norman Maclean and Paul Maclean. These two characters are brothers and grew up in a loving household with a strict but caring father named John. John was a presbyterian minister and taught them many important things in life such as religion and the art of fly fishing. The family held these two things to be very important saying “In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing” ( Maclean 1). As these two boys mature and grow up they begin to live two very different lives. Norman goes on to become a well-respected scholar who graduates from Dartmouth college, becomes an English professor, and marries a woman named Jessie. While his brother Paul does not attend college, but continues to pursue the art of fly fishing in the Blackfoot River as well as acquiring a love for alcohol and gambling. When faced with the question of does Norman succeeds in being his “Brother's keeper” the answer is clear. Although Norman is not able to save Paul from his dark future and Paul ends up dying Norman does succeed because he does his best to help Paul with offerings of money to help with his debt as well as attempted conversations, Norman truly loved Paul and tried his best to save him from this path and the devastation Norman feels after Pauls death all demonstrate that Norman truly was his “brother's keeper”.

To begin, once Norman became aware of his brother's position he immediately begin to try and assist him. Paul on the other hand would never accept assistance from his brother. On page 7 Norman says ” He did not want any big brother advice or money or help, and, in the end, I could not help him.” (Meclane 6). In this quotation, Norman explains how he attempts to be his “Brothers Keeper but is unable to because Paul never accepts Normans helping hand. Norman also says “…he never again spoke to me about money, not even about borrowing a few dollars when he was having real money problems.” (Mclean 7) In this quote Norman explains how Paul never even speaks on the matter, never allowing anyone to assist him in his adversities. Norman’s father John says something about the matter to Norman. “Help,” he said, “is giving part of yourself to somebody who comes to accept it willingly and needs it badly.” (Maclean 69) In this quotation, we become aware of the fact that Norman does try and assist his brother through his adversities but is unable to assist because Paul does not accept his help.

Secondly, Norman truly does care about his brother. He is constantly seen trying to help Pual, although his offerings are never accepted. We get a glimpse of Norman's emotions of the whole situation on page 31 when he says “Yet even in the loneliness of the canyon I knew there were others like me who had brothers they did not understand but wanted to help. We are probably those referred to as “our brothers’ keepers,” possessed of one of the oldest and possibly one of the most futile and certainly one of the most haunting of instincts. It will not let us go.” (Mclean 31). From this quotation, we can conclude how badly Norman wants to understand his brother, as well as how much pain he endeavors watching his little brother go down this path. This quotation goes to show how much Norman cares about his little brother and demonstrates that Norman is his “Brothers' Keeper”.

Finally, upon Paul's death, Norman was filled with complete devastation. One may believe that Norman was to blame for the death of Pual because he did not try to help him enough but this is not true. Norman constantly tried to help Pual but his help was never accepted. It is Paul's fault for never seeking or accepting guidance from his older brother. The deviation displayed from Norman when Paul dies shows us that Norman is truly his “Brothers Keeper. Norman Says “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” (Maclean 113) In this quote, we are shown the large amount of devastation that Norman feels after the death of his brother Pual. Fly fishing was something that Norman used to love and because of his brother's death, he is haunted by waters because it makes him think of his brother.

In conclusion in the book A River Runs Through It it is clear that Norman, Paul’s brother truly loves and cares about his brother. The death of Pual has Norman complete devastated and hurt. Because of the multiple times that Norman tried to help Paul, how Norman truly loves and cares about Paul and Norman's emotions after the death of Pual we know that Norman truly is his “Brother’s Keeper. Although Pual may have died Norman did everything in his power to help, therefore earning the title of “Brother Keeper”.