In examining On the Rainy River from an archetypal perspective, O'Brien highlights the importance of free will and how it influences life of a person through the archetypal symbol of the owl, the archetypal symbol of the Rainy River, and the archetypal character of Elroy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, the owl is used to highlight the importance of free will. Owls are symbols often linked to themes of wisdom and war in Greek mythology. In Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, is said to prefer winning her battles through "intelligent argument" rather than physical fighting ("Greek Gods and Goddesses"). This connects to O'Brien, as he believes that wars are "almost entirely an intellectual discussion" (O'Brien). This is also evident in the way he wants to distance himself from the war conflict, as he would “scream at them, telling them how much [he] hated their blind, reckless, automatic acquiescence to it all.” So when O'Brien has to choose whether to run or fight, he hesitates, as if he doesn't want to take part in the war, doesn't want to leave his family behind and be ridiculed by others. 'Brien also uses Rainy River to highlight the value of free will. The rainy river can represent three things: rebirth, life and death, which are big themes in the idea of ​​Baptism. As stated before, Tim must choose between running or fighting. Essentially, this means that he can be “reborn” and start his life over, or he can stay true to his old life. In the end, he decides not to dive into the water, remaining faithful to his old life. This is where he makes that decision, and it's the river that allows him to figure out what's best for him. Finally, Elroy Berdahl takes on the archetypal 'Savior' character. The Savior has the responsibility to help the characters' lives and express solidarity during moments of anguish. Indeed, it is evident that Elroy fits this role, as right when O'Brien meets him, he states, "The man who opened the door that day is the hero of my life." There are numerous instances where Elroy helped him. She lets him live at the lodge, offers to pay him for his work, provides him with "emergency funds" knowing he's been drafted and wants to escape, but most importantly, when she takes O'Brien on a boat trip on the Rainy River, allowing him to decide whether he wants to flee or fight. Elroy allows O'Brien to contemplate without judgment or pressure, demonstrating the importance of free will, as he is left to decide whether to take the path to freedom, leaving behind memories of his family in the process, or fight in the war, putting himself behind himself at risk of exile. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay To conclude, On the Rainy River uses the archetypal symbol of the owl, the symbol of the raining river, and the archetypal character of Elroy to emphasize to readers the importance of free will and choice and how they can influence their life and decisions in history.