Religion In The Rich Brother By Tobias Wolff

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Amidst tumultuous times religion is often turned to for solace and comfort with difficult matters. The short story, “The Rich Brother” by Tobias Wolff, displays both sides of religion, one being the extreme piety fueled by fear of the fate of one's immortal soul, and the other the doubtful cynicism of a skeptic. Donald is the brother obsessed with the future of his spirit in the next life and hops from religion to religion in search of the path which leads his soul to salvation. Therefore, fear of the unknown motivates people to seek religion, but suffering and hardship can cause faith to deteriorate and the person to become doubtful and unbelieving.
“The Rich Brother” is a conflict between the apex of piety, even to the extent of self-neglect, …show more content…

Why does Donald spend his time endlessly drifting to different religions? It is out of fear. His fear of the unknown trumps any physical possessions he may wish to own, or any sort of monetary value he wants to acquire. This fear drives him to the ends of the earth, different communities, and sects people. Medical emergencies have no effect on his search, as he almost died from undiagnosed hepatitis yet sought no hospital assistance. Extreme devotion seems to be an understatement.
The fear Donald feels relates to the unknown fate of his immortal soul. If he were truly a faithful and religious man he would commit to one system of beliefs and not fade in and out of religious sects. However, Donald does not know which religion is the right one to save his soul. He does not know which God is the real one or which belief system will lead his soul to the afterlife.
Clearly his doubts are large and passively subversive. He has had a hard life. His brother was abusive to him and has tried to kill him when they were children. Friends and work are hard to come by as a result of his eternal searching and wandering. Being homeless and often not knowing where his next meal will come from are some of his other hardships. He ruins his own life constantly looking for salvation and yet, he cannot decide which sect has the true deliverance. Paradoxically, he is a man of faith with no faith in his religious choices and …show more content…

The journey is described as one of evil intent and yet, Brown never seems to accomplish his goal. Whilst on his walk through the woods, he comes across a man assumed to be the embodiment of the devil within himself. This doppleganger leads him to a supposedly nice and homely Goodwife named Cloyse. She was described as pious by Brown, and yet as Cloyse talks he realizes that her good intentions were false and she was really a witch serving the devil. Long story short, it turns out everyone in his little town is of the devil’s allegiance, Brown and Faith being the last converts to their

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