A River Runs Through It Figurative Language Essay

In the novel A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean shows us how difficult it is to help someone with his/her problems when they refuse to accept help. The author, Maclean, tells his story about his own experience attempting to help his brother with his drinking, gambling, and fighting problems. Norman finds it difficult to help his brother with his issues because he is unsure of how to do it and what is required. Norman also doesn’t want to help him because he is afraid that a fight may break out. By revealing the theme, the author uses figurative language, which focuses on the relationship between himself and his brother. Therefore, Maclean is trying to show us how helping others can be difficult if the person does not want to accept the

Going to church Norman and Paul were raised that it was important to love the people in their family. Norman and Paul fought once, and it resulted in their mom getting hurt while she was trying to separate them. When their mother got hurt, they remembered a wall at church that said God is love. “So we returned to being gracious to each other, as the wall suggested that we should be” (9). This is figurative because the wall can’t literally talk to people. This wall prevents Norman from helping his brother with his problems. Norman uses the sign on the wall as an excuse for not helping his brother because he is concerned it would cause a disagreement between him and Paul. Paul needs to receive the help he can get from Norman. Yet, Norman is afraid to communicate with Paul about the help he needs. The author shows us how difficult it is for Norman to help his brother with his problems, creating a barrier to their

The call made Norman realize the reality of his brother with his addictions. “I learned later it must have been around two o’clock in the morning when I heard the thing that was ringing, and I ascended through river mists and molecules until I awoke catching the telephone. The telephone had a voice in it, which asked, ‘Are you Paul’s brother?’ I asked, ‘What’s wrong?’ The voice said, ‘I want you to see him” (23). This is figurative because Norman doesn’t literally ascend through the river. The day before Norman and Paul had an enjoyable fly-fishing day. And, for Norman to get a call from the police station saying Paul was locked up made Norman have a different perspective of his brother. Norman doesn’t see him the same way because the day when they were fishing he was calm. And now seeing him in jail because of his addiction. In this situation Norman finally realizes his brother needs help. The author shows how Norman should finally realize that Paul needs help with his problems. Even though Norman doesn’t know how to help his brother, he finally realized that Paul being in jail showed Norman the problems Paul is dealing