The Same River Twice

The beginning of Ted Mooney's novel, "The Same River Twice," begins with a very detailed prologue, explaining the scenery of the character's surroundings. As the novel begins, we are further made aware that the main character, Chris is in Iowa. A quote that really stands out to me is when Chris says "I am as alien here as in a city/" He is comparing his loneliness and the strangeness of his surroundings, as someone lost in a huge city. As the novel begins, we are told a lot about Chris and his personality. For example, he tells us that he left home at nineteen, which means that he is probably independent and able to take care of himself. We also learn that he proposed to his now wife, Rita, which shows his ability to persevere. As they progress on in their marriage, we learn that Chris and Rita differ in their thoughts on having children. Chris even mentions the thought of divorcing her because of the difference, when he says "If I genuinely loved her, I'd have to leave her. Worse, I had to leave her soon." This shows his compassion for his wife, that he is willing to leave her so that she can fulfill her dreams to have a child. Alas, Rita becomes pregnant which raises doubts in Chris' mind about his abilities to raise a child, and even questions if the child is his or not. Next, we are told about Chris' urge to be an actor, and while pursuing his dream, he encounters several interesting characters. For example, he is seduced by a transvestite who is pretending to be a woman. Next, he meets a woman named Jahi, who mentors him and becomes a friend to Chris. Chris says that "New York appeared to be a voluntary asylum where all the cranks and sociopaths escaped from their small towns." This quote kind of explains Chris' situation, as he too left his small town to live among the large, bustling city and try to make it on his own. The end of this portion of the novel ends with a very important metaphor. Chris says that "the twining sounds of heartbeat reminded me of the night of the storm. The baby is rain. Rita is the steady gush of river. I am alone in the dark on the bank." This quote that Chris is still not too fond of being a father, or maybe he is just not too sure of his abilities and is still doubting himself. Either way, Chris is a well-rounded man, full of unique and admirable qualities.