The second reason that I like Elroy is becuase he reminds me of my Granddad. They are both old. They both like the outdoors and like to fish. They both hail from a northern state that starts with "M", my Granddad is from Maine. Most of all, they have similar personality traits. My Granddad is a very kind and selfless person, characteristics that Elroy displays many times. They both display a level of caring for a young man in their life, a caring that I thank my Granddad for and a caring that O'brien thanked Elroy for by leaving him $200. They both are good listeners as my Granddad could listen to me for hours prattle on about fishing or any other topic and Elroy listened to O'brien's issues about his getting drafted. Finally, they both are good role models as my Granddad is certainly someone who I look up to and I think that to a degree O'brien looked up to Elroy. Elroy certainly is a great guy and his similarities to my Granddad only helped his standings in my mind.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Elroy Is Such A Great Guy
My favorite story thus far has undoubtedly been On the Rainy River. No, it is not just my favorite story because it has fishing in it, although that doesn't hurt its standings in my mind. My favorite character thus far has been Elroy, coincidentally featured in my favorite story. Elroy is my favorite character for many reasons. First off, I can't get over how nice this guy is. Without asking questions, he took in this young man who he immediately identified was distraught and needed help. Also without asking, he helped that young man get what he needed, which was to think over his life and have a wise voice helping him think over his life. One of the most valuble things that Elroy gave O'brien was actually nothing at all. Elroy would give O'brien his silence. Whenever O'brien needed to be alone in his own thoughts or needed to just talk things out, Elroy would listen or act like he didnt even notice O'brien's presence. Elroy was nurturing when he needed to be and let O'brien alone and let O'brien grow up, be a man and figure things out for himself when he needed to. Elroy must have the highest emotional intelligence of all people for the way that he managed O'brien's stay. Elroy always knew what to do and what to say in every situation. The thing that capped of Elroy's amazingness was by giving O'brien money after his stay. O'brien really owed Elroy for not only room and board but for everything that Elroy helped him with, but Elroy insisted that O'brien had earned the money for the work that he had done for the lodge. Elroy's kindness is not a normal level of kindness, it is an extraordinary level of kindness.
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Jack,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your analysis of Elroy. Obviously the man has a highly developed emotional radar and both you and I picked up on that in the chapter. I think O'Brien must not have been the first young guy he has had run away to his lodge. Yes, he did help out O'Brien by not prying and asking any questions and but part of that I think is because he's seen it before. He could recognize the internal struggle within O'Brien because it is a firmiliar struggle. When they were out on the river I also think that Elroy knew Tim wouldn't jump off the boat. Still though, it was almost like Elroy was being polite by offering the choice to swim to Canada. O'Brien may have been scared of judgement from everyone else in his life, but certainly not from Elroy. Like you said, his silence and presence was comforting. His time at the lodge was an expierence I know O'Brien will remember for the rest of his life.