The book A River Runs Through It shows the close relationship between two brothers. The setting is in Montana on the Blackfoot River. Norman and Paul, the two brothers, grow up fishing on the river together. I think the quote " When we saw him catch his last fish, we never saw the fish but only the artistry of the fishermen" explains what the book was about.
The quote was said by Norman referring to Paul. He was the best fisher, and loved to do it. Norman always tried to impress Paul and would try to learn his techniques. He was a great fisher who wouldn’t stop until he caught his limit. During the book the author would always talk about how strong his fishing arm and hand were. Every time they need to relax or get away they would go fishing.
They started fishing as they were growing up. Their father would always take them fishing to the Blackfoot River and teach them all he knew. It was the main thing their father did besides being a priest. It meant a lot to him and that is why he wanted to pass the hobby down to his sons. As they grew up, Paul learned to love fishing more than Norman. Paul was better at it and enjoyed it more. As they got older, they still found time to go fishing with each other. It brought them closer together, and no matter how much they grew apart, they knew they would always beable to get together and fish.
The last time Norman, Paul, and their father went fishing they all fished together. The father gave up early and sat on the shore reading a book. After Norman caught a few, he went down to sit by him. They sat there and watched Paul continue to fish. They knew he wouldn’t stop fishing until he got his limit, even if no fish were biting. When he needed only one more fish, Norman and his father watched him cast his line with perfection. The fish put up a big fight, but Paul handled him with ease. Norman and his father never did see that fish, but they saw how Paul caught it and knew it was a true art. That’s the part of the book where the quote was actually used.
As the book continues on Paul dies. He gets beat up by a person using the butt of a revolver. For some reason every bone in his strong fishing hand was broken. When Norman went to tell his father about what had happened to Paul, he told him that Paul had gotten his hand broken. His father knowing that his hand had been broken put him at ease. I think it was important to him because he knew that if he had survived he wouldn’t have been able to fish, which to Paul wouldn’t be worth living. They always continued to talk about how well Paul caught that fish, and the way he was a true fisherman.