A River Runs Through It Fisherman Fishing Quotes

From the rapid waterfalls to calm lakes, there is usually some fishermen’s nearby taking in the fresh air and attempting to catch the ‘big one’ of the day. Fishermen’s for a long time had found fishing in isolation enjoyable for the opportunity to reevaluate decisions and come to terms with one’s own self. However, just as there are differences between people, there is a multitude of reasons for a fisherman fishing. An example of fishermen varies intents on fishing are found in A River Runs Through It. The novella was written by Norman Maclean and depicted a setting in Montana, where a family of Presbyterian’s fishermen lived as they attempt to understand their connections to their surroundings through fishing. Maclean uses fishing to drive

As children, Paul and Norman were often given lessons on how to improve their fishing techniques, but on a specific occasion, their father gave them a more impactful word of advice. Paul entailed, “My father said it was an art that ended at two o’clock, he often added, ‘closer to twelve than two’ meaning that the rod should be taken back only slightly farther than overhead (straight overhead being twelve o’clock)” (3). One of the first concepts that come when understanding the quote is how to hold your fishing rod in order to fish in the most optimal state. Another meaning that also comes to mind is to end fishing on a high note. Norman’s father most likely told him to end fishing for the day joyful to create a wonderful connotation with fishing. Norman develops an art and skills while he fishes to better himself as a fisherman. Norman improving himself as a fisherman is an intrinsic value while fishing itself is an instrumental value for Norman communicating with his family. Maclean uses Norman to show the limitation of family members only communication through one

Throughout Paul and Norman entire youth, fishing on the Big Blackfoot was an activity they often performed together. One day while Paul and Norman are fishing on the Big Blackfoot, Norman proceeds to have an inner-monologue that only the readers are aware of and says, “My brother and I had fished the Big Blackfoot since nearly the beginning of the century – my father before then. We regarded it as a family, as a part of us, and I surrender it now with great reluctance to dude ranches, the unselected inhabitants of Great Falls, and the Moorish invaders from California” (13). During the monolog, Norman briefly talks about his family history with the Big Blackfoot and intensely on his feelings of disconnecting himself from the river. Norman had great difficulty detaching front the river because of his extensive time spent fishing from the lake. Although Norman lost touch with the Big Blackfoot for a period of time, he eventually came back home to the lake to restore himself and indulge in his longing to fish the river