Sibling Rivalry In The Rich Brother

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The theme in "The Rich Brother", would be sibling rivalry, the love that the brothers have for each other, and faith. Sibling rivalry is started by the older brother Pete. As in most cases with siblings, Pete, thinks that his mother showed more affection to his younger brother Donald. The brothers had conflicts with each other that was never resolved, starting from when they were children. Sibling rivalry continues as adults, because their views on living are completely different. Even though the brothers can't stand each other, they have a lot of love for each other. They are competitive, talking down on each other. Deep down they are acting this way to show each other how to live a better life. Pete thinks that being rich is more important, while Donald believes that faith is more important than the amount of mobbed you have. Sibling …show more content…

"Where Pete is stout and hearty and at home in the world" (259). "Donald was bony, grave, and obsessed with the fate of his soul" (259). Pete does seem like the successful brother because he has more money. The story portrays that to be wrong. Pete, being unstable, and depending on financial status to feel secure ,satisfied, and to build his ego. An example of this would be when Donald asks Pete what he dreams about when they are driving together. "Sex and money. Mostly money. A nightmare is when I dream I don't have either" (262). This shows that Pete just cares about the material things in life and how his ego depends on them, and not faith. Pete is not religious in any way. Even though Donald is described in a way that makes him appear weak, he is happy with himself (secure). His faith is the reason for true happiness within himself, not the material things. Donald is described in the story as not revolving his life around financial status and material things, "obsessed with the fate of his soul" (259). This shows that Donald is more secure than

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