The Molecules of Life
In his novella A River Runs Through It, Norman Maclean compares family and life to water. [One of the main themes of the book is Norman's brother Paul and how he relates to water and how life is imitated by the river.] Norman idolizes Paul and his unique relationship with the river.
Maclean writes, “Below him was the multitudinous river, and, where the rock had parted it around him, big-grained vapor rose. The mini-molecules of water left in the wake of his line made momentary loops of gossamer, disappearing so rapidly in the rising big-grained vapor that they had to be retained in memory to be visualized as loops. The spray emanating from him was finer-grained still and enclosed him in a halo of himself. The halo of himself was always there and always disappearing, as if he were candlelight flickering about three inches from himself. The images of himself and his line kept disappearing into the rising vapors of the river, which continually circled to the tops of the cliffs where, after becoming a wreath in the wind, they became rays of sun.” (22). The story A River Runs Through It is told by Norman, and his characterization of Paul is one of reverence. Maclean delivers this message brilliantly through use of diction. In the first sentence of the selected passage, the word “vapor” is used. Later, “spray” is applied. Next, “finer-grained,” then finally the word “halo” is used in relation to Paul. When put them all together, these words have a sound of admiration. While Norman looks up to his brother, he doesn’t have a solidified vision of Paul. “Momentary,” “visualized,” and “flickering” are all words used in this piece that add to the twinkling and gilded image of Paul.
At the end of the story the narrator writes, “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.” (Maclean 104) This passage shows life as the river, and how everything around the river merges together into one. The line “The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time.” shows that life will go on forever as far as we’ll know, and that life imitates itself over and over again. The line “On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops.”, shows that some parts of life will never make it into the mainstream, but will still live on forever.
In the novella A River Runs Through It , by Maclean, in his writing he symbolizes, the water of the river, to life and his relationship with his family. Life, water, and the way he sees his brother are all connected through Maclean’s writing.
Works Cited
Maclean, Norman. A River Runs Through It. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976.
A River Runs Through It. Dir. Robert Redford. Columbia Tri Star Video, 1993.
Shadow Casting: The Making of A River Runs Through It. Dir. Dennis Aig, and Andy Froenke. Chip Davis Productions and Sunshine Company, 1992.
Другие работы по теме:
2Nd Law Of Thermodynamics Vs E Essay
, Research Paper Second Law of Thermodynamics vs. Evolution According to the second law of thermodynamics, when energy is converted from one form to another, the amount of useful energy decreases. In relation to the theory of evolution, this law is not contradictory. The second law of thermodynamics is not relating to energy within living things because living things retain energy from the sun.
Untitled Essay Research Paper Hydrogen bonds are
Untitled Essay, Research Paper Hydrogen bonds are extremely strong bonds which join molecules of relatively small mass. This peculiarity creates the unique properties associated with substances with hydrogen bonding, especially in H20. In most compounds, the polarity of its elements has a negligible effect on the dipole forces which connect them.
Van Der Waals And Permanent Dipole Forces
Essay, Research Paper Van der Waals forces Act between all atoms and molecules. Van der Waals forces are caused by the formation of temporary dipoles due to constant movement of electrons. The size of the force depends on the size of the molecule. In a
Life Essay Research Paper You have been
Life Essay, Research Paper You have been ready to move on for quite some time But maybe not so ready to let go Of all that you know (Your friends, your family, and all the sweet memories)
Properties Of Water Essay Research Paper What
Properties Of Water Essay, Research Paper What properties of water make it a unique material and an essential component of living matter? Water is so common that it is easy to overlook the fact that it is an exceptional substance with many amazing qualities. With its properties, we can trace water s unique behavior to the structure and interactions of its molecules.
Breast Milk Essay Research Paper Summary How
Breast Milk Essay, Research Paper Summary: How Breast Milk Protects Newborns Doctors have long recognized that breastfed infants contracted far fewer infections than infants who were given formula. The reason is that mother s milk helps infants to fight against foreign organisms during the first few months of life when an infant doesn t have an effective immune system.
Poem Destiny Essay Research Paper Sometimes I
Poem: Destiny Essay, Research Paper Sometimes I wonder if life is just meant to be If we have not a choice in the matter, or we really are free I walked down the street on one fine day
Ozone Essay Research Paper NASA and EU
Ozone Essay, Research Paper NASA and EU Report Massive Arctic Ozone Loss Scientists from NASA and the European Union blamed the long, cold winter and human-made pollution for one of the largest ozone losses to record. The study was conducted between January and March with the use of NASA?s high-tech ER-2 plane.
Philosophy On Life Essay Research Paper My
Philosophy On Life. Essay, Research Paper My philosophy on life begins with the subject of death, which infact terrifies most people. Many people believe after you die you go to ‘heaven’ or ‘hell’, my opinion is similar but in a way different. I believe that there is certainly an afterlife but not as limited to those two fictional places.
Chemical Essay Research Paper The chemical equation
Chemical Essay, Research Paper The chemical equation 2H2+O2[right arrow]2H2O represents the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to form water. The arrow points in the direction of the reaction from the reactants (substances that react) toward the product or products. In this case the reactants are hydrogen (written H2 because each molecule consists of two atoms of hydrogen) and oxygen (written O2 because each molecule consists of two atoms of oxygen) and the product is water.
Gel Filtration Chromatography Essay Research Paper This
Gel Filtration Chromatography Essay, Research Paper This lab s topic was Gel Filtration Chromatography. Chromatography is a technique used to separate molecules on the basis of differences in size, shape, mass, charge, solubility and absorption properties. A specific kind of chromatography is gel filtration.
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
The Importance Of Water To Life On
Earth Essay, Research Paper Water is the most important substance in our evolution and our daily lives. Without water, life as we know it would not have been possible. This essay will examine the water molecule
Life And Chess Essay Research Paper To
Life And Chess Essay, Research Paper To run, to hide, to fight, Are the questions we face, day and night. To run, to hide, to fight, You have options, choose well, choose right.
Quotes About Life Essay Research Paper Quotes
Quotes About Life Essay, Research Paper Quotes About Life “The answers to life s problems aren t at the bottom of a bottle: they re on TV!” Homer Simpson “It s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”
Aliens Essay Research Paper Aliens
Aliens Essay, Research Paper Aliens What are aliens? There are illegal aliens. Their are UFO aliens. You have to ask yourself one question, do you think there could be intelligent life
The Membrane Essay Research Paper The MembraneThe
The Membrane Essay, Research Paper The Membrane The membrane has a double lipid layer through which fat- soluble substances will move, by passive transport or diffusion. The molecules will only move through if they are small enough.
Lfes Far Flung Raw Materials Essay Research
Paper Christopher Chyba has the leading idea that these space particles did in fact bring in the planet’s water and atmospheric gases. These space organisms are thought to be responsible for making our earth habitable by bringing in water and gas molecules which would provide our atmosphere and oceans. Also, that the space debris was needed to build life and could have even started the first cellular processes.
Carbohydrates Essay Research Paper There are three
Carbohydrates Essay, Research Paper There are three principal kinds of carbohydrates and each are classified according to the number of sugar molecules they contain. Monosaccharides, such as ribose, glucose, and fructose, contain only one sugar molecule. Disaccharides consist of two sugar molecules linked covalently.
BioReport Essay Research Paper 1 Cellular TransportaOsmosisOsmosis
Bio-Report Essay, Research Paper 1.) Cellular Transport a.Osmosis Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a differentially permeable membrane from a region where water molecules are more concentrated to one where they are less concentrated. The transport of water is simple the cell being selectively permeable will allow water through it until an equilibrium is reached and at that time water will flow both in and out of the cell maintaining the equilibrium.
Secrets Of Life Essay Research Paper There
Secrets Of Life Essay, Research Paper There is one part of my life that no one knows about. This secret has caused me to act in ways I thought I wasn’t capable of doing. For the past five years, I
Carl Pauling Essay Research Paper Carl PaulingCarl
Carl Pauling Essay, Research Paper Carl Pauling Carl Pauling was born Feb. 28, 1901 in Portland Oreg. He has made major contributions in structural chemistry and molecular biology. Linus Pauling became interested in biological molecules, and he preformed magnetic studies on oxygen-carrying hemoglobin molecules with C.
Cellular Respiration Essay Research Paper Cellular respiration
Cellular Respiration Essay, Research Paper Cellular respiration begins with glucose. Glucose is the primary fuel used in glycolysis, the first stage of cellular respiration. This molecule is found in the gel-like substance called cytoplasm that fills the cell. In glycolysis, glucose undergoes phosphorylation by ATP.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Fractional Distillation Essay Research Paper Crude Oil
Fractional Distillation Essay, Research Paper Crude Oil Crude oil is made frm dead animals under the sea which were compressed between layers of impermeable rock in sedimentary rock. Fractional Distillation Fractional distillation takes place at an oil refinery. The
Biology 2 Essay Research Paper BIOLOGY 2
Biology 2 Essay, Research Paper BIOLOGY 2 1. ORAGANELLES2. TYPES OF CELLS3. OSMOSIS/ DIFFUSION4. CELL THEORY 1. ORGANELLES small structures embedded in the cytoplasm e.g. plastids, vacuoles, mitochondria, lysosomes, centrosomes, endoplasmic reticulum (e.r.) 2. TYPES OF CELLS A.
Chemistry
– Bonding Essay, Research Paper Electron Pair Repulsion Theory: The electron pair repulsion theory states that the electron pairs in the valence energy level of an atom repel each other, and therefore are arranged as far apart as possible. For example, H2O: