Norman Mclean’s A River Runs Through It :: Norman Mclean A River Runs Through It

Norman Mcleans A River Runs Through It explores many feelings and experiences of one turn of the century family in Missoula, Montana. In both the movie, directed by Robert Redford, and the original work of fiction we follow the Mcleans through their joys and sorrows. However, the names of the characters and places are not purely coincidental. These are the same people and places known by Norman Mclean as he was growing up. In a sense, A River Runs Through It is Mcleans autobiography. Although these autobiographical influences are sooner evident throughout the course of the story they have deeper roots in the later life of the author as he copes with his lifes hardships.The characters in the movie and book are taken straight from Mcleans life. From the hard working, diffuse centered, minister father, to the drunken, down on his luck, brother-in-law, Neil. The character of Paul appears the be the most true to life member of Normans family. The audience quickly becomes familiar with Paul and his quick-tempered, always ready for anything attitude. This is evident in the starting signal of the story with Pauls frequent phrase ...with a bet on the to make things interesting (Mclean 6). It was almost funny and sometimes not so funny to see a boy always wanting to bet on himself and almost sure to win (Mclean 5). Unlike Norman who was rigorously ingleside schooled every morning, while Paul seemed to escape this torment. The boys would spend their afternoons frolicking in the woods and fishing the Big Blackfoot River. The differences that developed between Pauls and Normans fishing styles become evident in the published versions of Mcleans life as well as his real life. Norman followed the traditional style taught by their preacher-father, ten and two in a four -count rhythm, like a metronome. The four-count rhythm, of course, is functional. The one count takes the line, leader, and fly off the water the two count tosses them seemingly straight into the sky the th ree count was my fathers way of saying that at the top the leader and fly have to be presumptuousness a little beat of time to get behind the line as it is starting forward the four count means put on the power and throw the line into the rod until you reach ten oclock-then check-cast, let the fly and leader get ahead of the line, and coast to a soft and perfect landing (Mclean 4).