30 pages • 1-hour read
A River Runs Through It
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Symbols & Motifs
The Rivers
In this novella, rivers have several meanings. On one level, a river represents the natural world. On another level, the arc of a river flowing through the rocks and canyons of Montana symbolizes the arc of a human life. Both meanings of the river inform the overarching structure of the novella.
It is also significant that there are so many rivers named in the story: the Big Blackfoot, the Elkhorn, the Swan, the Missouri, Clark Fork, and other specific canyons or places on these rivers. Each river is a specific terrain and contains specific types of trout that require specific techniques and know-how. Maclean explains each river in detail, demonstrating that he is striving to master the language of the rivers and the fish in order to understand the river and life itself.
Fly Fishing
Part technique, part art, and difficult to master, fly fishing, its terminology and its methods permeate this novella. Detailed descriptions of the rod, the different flies used according to the weather, the river and the type of trout being sought, entwine with Maclean’s philosophical explorations of the meditative and spiritual dimensions of fishing. Fly fishing becomes an extended metaphor for man’s approach to life.
The mastery of the art of fly fishing is the path to grace in this novella, but grace looks different for different characters. Fly fishing is the vehicle through which the Maclean men demonstrate their worthiness and understanding of nature, or, for Rev. Maclean, God. For Rev. Maclean, God and nature and man and nature are one; therefore, man can be one with God through nature. For Norman and Paul, fly fishing gives them an opportunity to experience grace through friendly competition and brotherly love. For Paul, fly fishing is his art; he is unable to find grace on earth, but Maclean hopes that he has found grace in the river, after death.
Addiction
Two men struggle unsuccessfully with addiction in this novella. Neal and Paul are both alcoholics, and Paul also has a gambling addiction. Both men spiral out of control in the full view of their families. Paul dies as a result of his addictions, and Maclean’s exposure of the dangers and the painful results of addiction demonstrate the risk to everyone involved when a loved one is struggling with alcohol or drugs.
Maclean depicts the suffering of family members unable to help their loved ones. Though neither family is able to help, they continue to love and support their family members. Both families try to help, and they discover that in order to be useful, help must be wanted and welcomed. Both Paul and Neal are actively self-destructive; Paul spurns the help that Norman offers, while Neal seems to revel in being enabled by his mother. Maclean offers the reader no easy answers nor does he suggest any “tough love” solutions. The many descriptions of the behavior and consequences simply reveal the pain that addiction can cause.
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