Everything is connected
A common motif found in the story is the idea that everything is connected. A thing or action cannot exist in isolation and depends on other actions and elements to make it happen. Salvation for example, is connected in the novel with the idea of forgiveness, obedience and faith. Fishing is also connected with the idea of rhythm, calmness and a sense of closeness with nature.
Rebel child
Another motif is the idea that Paul is a dissident of a child. From a young age, he distinguished himself as wanting to go against what everyone was telling him to do and finding his own path. Paul for example refused to follow his father’s technique when it came to fishing and chose instead to develop one of his own. He also broke away from his father’s influence when he moved to another city and followed his dream of becoming s reporter.
Symbol for confinement
The element of marriage is used here as a symbol of confinement. The one who fears marriage the most is Paul who refuses to settle down and is unable to understand why his brother would willingly marry a woman and decide to spend the rest of his life with her. For him, it is impossible to think that he will willingly do anything to jeopardy his liberty and freedom.
Lack of insight
Towards the end of the first part of the story, Norman mentions how one time he and his brother got into a fight and knocked over their mother whose glasses got lost in the process. The boys continued to argue over who was to blame and their mother tried to convince them that it was no one’s fault. The missing glasses are thus used here to suggest the idea that Norman’s mother was unable to fully see how her children were and understand their character.
A real man
From the beginning it is suggested that Norman was a lot manlier than his younger brother and this is also a common motif in the story. Norman chose a job associated with manliness, namely he chose to work as a lumberjack while Paul remained close to home and worked as a lifesaver. All this points towards the idea that while Paul was more independent when compared to Norman, the latter was more a man that his younger brother, realizing what was really important in life.
