Analysis Of Peace Like A River By Leif Enger

Leif Enger’s Peace Like A River tells the story of Reuben, who searches for Davy, his brother, a fugitive, all the while witnessing his father’s miracles. Peace Like a River depicts an unbreakable connection between Reuben and his father Jeremiah; the two of them would do anything for each other. Throughout the novel, Reuben and Jeremiah’s health seem tied to each other. Reuben is at his strongest when Jeremiah falls ill, but when Jeremiah seems healthy and happy, Reuben’s asthma controls him, and in the end, Jeremiah gives up his life for Reuben. Firstly, Reuben is healthiest when Jeremiah becomes sick. Jeremiah comes down with pneumonia and cannot leave his bed. He cannot breath, so he calls to Reuben to pound on his back, ‘“How I whacked!

Andreeson feels certain that Davy is near, so he goes out looking for Davy. Upon hearing about Andresson, Jape decides to go after Andreeson, planning to kill him. However before he does, Jape attacks the family. Jape shoots at the family, when both Jeremiah and Reuben collapse. They awake in Heaven, surrounded by rivers filled with fish, and cities filled with people. Rueben sees the fish and people and thinks, “Lord can’t I be among them? Can’t I come too?”(Enger 304), and Jeremiah says, “Soon. Very Soon!”(Enger 304). Then, Jeremiah joins the river. Jeremiah dies and goes to Heaven, and Reuben returns back to Earth. Despite, how much Reuben also wants to join the river, Jeremiah knows that Reuben still has a life to live. Jeremiah has always looked out for Reuben, and would do anything for him. Later, Reuben and Dr. Nokes are talking about how it is a miracle that Reuben lives. His lungs are a mess, and therefore, scientifically, there is no way he should be able to breath. Dr. Nokes insists, “Your father should not have died…No organs were damaged. Blood vessels, yes. But he actually shouldn't have died”(Enger 307). Despite the fact that Jeremiah was shot, the bullets barley harmed him, it just grazed him. On the other hand, Reuben’s lungs failed him, it seems impossible for him to breath, yet he can breath better than ever. Jeremiah died with barely a scratch, whereas Reuben is alive with lungs that no longer function. Jeremiah loves Reuben so much that he gave up his life so Reuben could