Rich Brother - Loyal to a Fault

The short story, "The Rich Brother," by Tobias Wolff represents the same concept that everyday people all over the world encounter. This portrays how having siblings can be an enormous part of a persons life. The rivalry between siblings is often very competitive, but at the same time similar to magnets. When they are not connected it may seem they are independent and whole, but when examined closely it is obvious they are really relying on each other to function properly. Although Pete and Donald's life are separate and completely different, they are in fact very dependent on each other.

At each stratum of society, there is the misconception of correlating money and character. Jim’s mother risked her life and that of her only son to get her ‘dues.’ “[I]’m an honest woman,” she proclaims and intends to prove this proclamation by taking only what is owed (Stevenson 17). It is astonishing how her perception of value is skewed. She sits counting money in the face of imminent danger. She values money over the safety of herself and her son. It is when danger is at the door that Jim is able to pull her back from the brink of death and disaster.

Tom Walker is parsimony known as stingy. Tom Walker left a great part of unfinished and unfurnished of parsimony (237). Tom was a stern supervisor and censurer and believe every credit belongs to himself. “Let us get hold of the property’’, said he consolingly to himself, ‘’ and we will endeavor to do without the woman’’ (234). Tom was the universal friend of the needy and acted like a ‘’ friend in need’’, that is to say, he always exacted good pay and good security (236). Tom Walker trick people with their belongings by getting other people riches.

Another of Plunkitt’s views that leaves a bit of a cloudy feeling is his view of looters and practical politicians. He explains the difference using Tammany Hall and the Philadelphia republicans as the examples. He says “The Philadelphians ain't satisfied with robbin' the bank of all its gold and paper money. They stay to pick up the nickels arid pennies and the cop comes arid nabs them.”(29) He makes it as clear as possible that a practical politician only takes just enough and that a looter takes more than his fair share. The explanation of this goes along with that of graft, it seems that he is trying to convince himself that he is honest and not doing any wrong.

Mama instructed Walter to deposit three thousand for Beneatha’s medical schooling and the remaining money for the household. Walter instead made a business transaction that he believed would change his family’s life for the better, only to find out he made a grave error. Willy Harris ran off with all the money! The family is devastated and mama believe they are not able to move and decided to fix up their current home.

The story the Other Wes Moore: One name Two fates by Wes Moore is about two boys who grew up in the same family situation without a father and in the same neighborhood. The two boys grew to live completely different lives, the other Wes Moore was given a life sentence for murder while Wes became a Wealthy businessman in Washington DC. The businessman Wes chooses the correct path culturally and socially unlike the other Wes. The Other Wes lived the life of stealing not because he wanted to but he had to to survive. The other Wes economically didn't have the support from his mother and

He opened a savings account for himself and deposited all of the money he had, except for the correct amount to pay change to Mr. Greyson, whom he owed from a shine the prior day. In paying his debt to Mr. Greyson, he earned his trust and bought himself an invitation to Sunday school and eventually lunch with the gentleman and his family. This was the start to Dick’s better life of saving his money, renting his own room, and meeting Fosdick, his new friend and private tutor. One day he ran an errand with Fosdick for his employer and the two rode the ferry when they witnessed a young boy, the age of 6, fall of the edge of the boat and into the water. Dick, not hearing the father’s offer of a reward for anyone who would save his son, dove in to save the boy anyhow. Once the boy had been returned safely to his father, the father was so grateful to Dick that he took him to have his wet suit dried and provided him with a suit nicer than his original suit from Frank. Dick then went in to speak with the man, as per his request, and was offered a position in his counting room with a wage of ten dollars per week, considerably higher than his wage would be at any other store or counting room. Dick gleefully accepted his offer and lived content knowing how hard he had worked for this day.

In the escape from the farmhouse scene, the trio makes it to Pete’s cousins’ house, where they hope they can spend the night with out incident. Only to have their host hand them over to the police for the reward money place on them for escaping from prison. At first, Pete does not believe it was his cousin that sold them out, believing that you do not betray your family. Then Pete’s cousin says to them “I have to look out for my own”. This leads to an enraged Pete to refer to him as “Judas”, for betraying him and his friends. This scene describes the concept of goodness of humanity in American culture by showing the opposite of what it means. The goodness of humanity is almost uniquely American as compared to older societies, in that Americans mostly assume that people are national good rather than evil. When the company and Pete first escape from prison Pete trusted his cousin to keep them safe because they are family and breaking that trust would be wrong. But when the cousin of Pete breaks that bond of trust, Pete is outraged that he did it, however, he is even more outraged at what Everett did. He stole a pocket watch that while he claims to have stolen it because they were betrayed; Pete, on the other hand, claims that is not the

However, the story “The Rich Brother”, emphasizes that Pete is rich with a job in real state while Donald is jobless and is trying new things. Money has been a struggle for the youngest brother and depends on his brother, he doesn’t pay the money back. Pete doesn’t deny him money because he tries to help Donald not fall behind. One reason that Pete is furious at Donald is that he can’t save his money and gives it away to a stranger. Pete and Donald struggle to understand each other because they have different lives and standards. Pete is classified as high-class and Donald low-class, both are from diverse category

Not only does Donald believe that everyone should share, but he has a deep concern with the well-being of others. He is more concerned with the fate of his and everybody else’s soul. Wolf states, “Donald couldn’t content himself with worrying about his own soul. He had to worry about everyone else’s, and especially Pete’s.” (391) Donald has a deep feeling that his brother is danger because of the way he has put money and material things before believing in God. His need to be some sort of savior has caused him to put his own needs behind the needs of others. He doesn’t want much for himself. When Pete holds five twenties out the window “Donald stepped back as if horrified,” and says, “I don’t need that much’” (393). He gives everything that he has; he even gives away the money that Pete

“Our brothers and sisters are there with us from the dawn of our personal stories to the inevitable dusk” (Susan Scarf Merrell). Merrell, an American author and a creative writing and literature teacher at Stony Brook Southampton, states that since the early days of your youth to the end of our story our siblings are there throughout our whole journey. Life is similar to a play; parents pass away during the first half; while one’s children come in during the second half; but siblings are there throughout both acts. Tobias Wolff’s, The Rich Brother, portrays the relationship between two brothers that are complete opposites; yet they know each other’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else will ever be able. The Rich Brother describes a complex sibling relationship that is fairly common in today’s society; Tobias Wolff makes use of pathos by incorporating real life sibling abuse; and ethos in his own life and credentials.

In, “Brother Dear” by Bernice Friesen , conflict arises between Greg and his father, as a result of their two differing opinions on life and success. Greg’s father is shown to be a parent of strict nature. His views are opposite to those of Greg, as he believes that education is the key to success, and stresses the importance of post secondary. The father seems to live vicariously through his children. He regrets not attending higher education, as “[he] inherited a John Deere dealership from his father and was always sorry he hadn't tried to be a doctor”

Willy also lies to Linda. We find out in the play that Willy is having

locker room when he was in high school, and he claimed that he took it

Summary of central events: Mr. Snopes burns Mr. Harris barn because Mr. Harris charges him, “a dollar pound fee,” (515) for the return of his hog. In court the judge dismisses the charges against Snopes but warns him to leave the town for good and Snopes agrees to comply. The next day the family arrives at their new home. After Snopes tracks horse manure onto the expensive rug, the server instructs him to clean and return it. Snopes ruins the rug from improper cleaning and Major de Spain “charge[s] [him] twenty bushels of corn against [his] crop” (521). At the last court appearance the judge decides that Mr.Snopes has to pay Major de Spain 10 bushels of corn for the ruin of the rug. Because Snopes is upset from having to pay de Spain for