Sibling Rivalry In Blood Brothers By F. Scott Fitzgerald

Family Siblings ultimately share an “intense emotional tie” connecting them together (Schilb 346). This emotional tie is like an unsaid pact that siblings have that binds them together for life. This pact can build siblings relationships and draw them closer, or eventually discourage them and draw them apart. Growing up with a sibling tends to be very hard and very intense. Siblings are always in a constant battle consciously or unconsciously trying to one up their fellow brothers and/or sisters. This subconscious battle is what causes sibling rivalry. Especially in an older sibling, who is always trying to out do their younger sibling and would do anything to accomplish dominance. Jealously is the sole driver that causes a sibling to want
Pete, who is the older brother, is rich, has a family, and has many materialistic objects that he has spent his money on. Donald, who is the younger brother, is the exact opposite of Pete. Donald does not have a family, or money, or even a stable home. Instantly from the beginning of the story the reader sympathizes with Donald. Donald is constantly asking Pete for help, financially and practically because Donald does not seem to be able to stay in one place. Multiple times in the short story the reader gets hints at how dependent Donald is on Pete, and how much Pete despises it. The main premise of the story “The Rich Brother” is that Pete has to go pick up Donald because Donald got kicked out of another place he was staying at. Donald was staying at a farm owned by people of faith. Donald believes the issue between he and his brother is spiritual and Pete believes the issue between them is prosperity. Donald joined the Christian faith looking for a group, or a “family of faith” as Wolff describes in the story (347). He was looking for a family, because he does not have a loving and supportive family. Pete is too focused on how much Donald did not prosper successfully and render the same life as him, that he only focuses on the parts of Donald’s life he doesn’t achieve anything illustrious. Pete despises Donald’s dependence on him, because Pete did not want Donald to prosper. Every chance Pete gets he degrades
Pete is constantly referring to Donald as “brother” when is it evident that he does not see Donald as a brother. Instead he sees Donald as an appendage or a leech, which is stuck to him, sucking money and life out of him. It is ironic that Pete calls Donald brother because he does not see Donald as a brother, and because Pete doesn’t treat Donald as a brother. In the Bible the disciples of Jesus Christ get referred to as Brothers and Sisters. The Bible explains to its readers to treat your brothers and sisters how they treat you, and to do it with respect. Pete only treats Donald with neglect. Another Biblical reference is when the story starts talking about Webster. Pete and Donald stopped to eat and they came across a man named Webster who was trying to get to the destination Pete and Donald were driving to. Webster hints that he needed a ride, and Donald replies instantly with a yes, but Pete was not as sure. This represents Donald’s overwhelming sense of humanity, and Pete’s underwhelming sense. Once they begin the journey in the car, Webster tells them a story of how he got a job in Peru and how he eventually lost his wife from a disease, all because he became consumed by greed and gold. Webster kept repeating during his story, “the earth will be repaid, gold for gold” (Wolff 354). This could represent how far, or how un-humane Webster became until he was