Sibling Rivalry In The Rich Brother

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

rivalry started when Donald was born. The brothers have a seven year age difference, so that would be expected. Before Donald was born, Pete got all the attention. That all changed when Donald was born, and Pete felt that he was getting less attention from their mother. Pete feels bitter toward Donald, because Donald is receiving more affection. This causes sibling rivalry on Pete's side. Pete noticed how Donald was getting all the affection from their mother, while Pete was getting none. An example of this is when Pete told Donald, "mom was in a state every time you burped" (264). It seems as if Pete blames Donald for feeling abandoned. Because of Pete's feeling of abandonment, he caused Donald pain. "If I was on my stomach you'd roll me over. Then you would lift up my pajama shirt and start hitting me on my stitches" (264). When Pete had to babysit, he would abuse Donald. Their parents seemed to be unaware of the resentment that Pete had towards Donald during childhood.
Sibling rivalry between Pete and Donald has continued, even as adults. This is the case because Pete never recognized for his abusive behavior towards Donald. Pete denies harming Donald, and acts like it's no big deal. Pete refused to explain himself to Donald about treating him badly because Donald was taking all the attention. Pete says to Donald, "it might have happened once or twice. Kids do things. I can't get all excited about something I maybe did twenty-five years ago" (264). All Donald wants from Pete is to acknowledge what he did. Pete's denial has led to a lot of resentment that has carried on their sibling rivalry.
The brothers being competitive is a factor to their sibling rivalry. Pete is very determined in his hunt for being very, very rich. Donald is irresponsible when it comes to his finances, so Pete criticizes him for it. Pete seemingly shows his competitiveness, but Donald does not. Pete acts like he is superior to Donald. Instead Donald just sits there embarrassed about his older brother. Donald says to Pete, "it's all a big laugh to you, isn't it?" (263). Pete apologized to Donald, and Donald says, "you don't know when to quit. You just keep hitting away" (263). Donald doesn't approve of Pete's lifestyle. Donald rather live a more spiritual life with meaning, not a life just about riches. "The trouble was that Donald couldn't content himself with worrying about his own soul. He had to worry about everyone else's, and especially Pete's..He told Pete that he was praying form him" (259-260).
Sibling rivalry is celebrated by their love for each other. Pete always came to Donald's rescue. Even though Pete reasoning with Donald that he should be more competent, his love for Donald always made Pete go back to him. Pete in their relationship, takes the role of the "protector", that shows the strong bond between both of them. Donald shows shows that he loves his brother when he guides Pete in a spiritual way. Donald told his brother that "money and sex" (262), is not giving him real satisfaction in life. Donald made it clear that only spiritual fulfillment will help him with his feeling of emptiness, and not skydiving. "At the age of forty Pete took up skydiving…Later he made the mistake of trying to describe it to Donald, who kept asking how much it cost and then acted appalled that Pete told him" (259). All Donald wants is to have a more spiritual view on life, not a life all about riches and thrill seeking activities.
Pete and Donald's appearances do not match their security within themselves.

"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

Pete.
Since Pete doesn't have any faith, it causes him to be more ignorant when it comes to anything that doesn't involve being rich and material things. Donald was involved in several different religions, "out of devotion to the second of these he entered an ashram in Berkeley..He drifted from church to church, then joined a pentecostal community that met somewhere in Mission District to sing in tongues and swap prophecies" (259). Pete could not "make sense of it" (259). Pete thinks that religion doesn't make any sense, because he can't seem to comprehend Donald's participation in a variety of religions. An example of Pete being ignorant would be when Pete, Donald, and Webster are driving in the car. Webster, is a man the brothers are giving a ride to, they met him at a Denny's. Pete and Webster are talking about when Webster went on a trip to Peru. Pete is described as "a voice low and innocent of knowingness" (266). Because Pete doesn't have faith, he is ignorant to anything that doesn't involve riches and material things. Pete is blind because he is ignorant when it comes to faith. Donald wore a shirt that Pete couldn't read. So Pete asked Donal what his shirt said. "Try God" (261). Obviously Donald's shirt represents his faith. Pete having trouble reading Donald's shirt shows a sign that Pete doesn't have the knowledge to understand faith to begin with.
Because Pete doesn't have as much faith as his brother Donald, he is more deceitful. He is deceitful when it comes to his success, and the fact that he can't tell the truth most of the time. An example os this would be when Pete picks up Donald. Pete asks his younger brother why he was leaving his religious "family of faith" (259). Donald said that he know they wrote a letter to Pete, but he denied that it happened. Another thing Pete lied about is when he said he didn't try to kill Donald. Donald tries to refresh Pete's memory by asking if he remembers abusing him by punching his stitches. Pete completely denies such a thing occurring. Once their argument got a little more heated, he stated to Donald, "it might have happened once or twice. Kids do those things" (264). Pete seems to always deny many things, which is because of him not having any faith.
Because of Donald's faith, he is more good-hearted. An example of Donald being so considerate is when, "Donald couldn't content himself with worrying about his own should. He had to worry about everyone else's, and especially Pete's" (259). This shows that Donald cares more about other people than himself. His faith helped him be an unselfish individual. Because of his faith, he has more strength within himself.
Pete and Donald need and can't live without each other. They may criticize each other's lifestyle choices, but their inadequacies is what makes them come together, gaining each of their strengths for their weaknesses. There competitiveness is healthy in their relationship in some ways. This is because they show each other another area of life. The bond of the brothers takes over their conflicts as a result of their sibling rivalry. When it comes to faith, Donald and Pete have different views. Because of how strong Donald's faith is, he his more generous, unselfish, and feeling more secure with himself. Since Pete really doesn't have much faith to begin with, he is selfish, ignorant, and is not very secure with himself. Faith is what can help someone become more secure, and have a true value of life.