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Betrayal In Hurst's Of Mice And Men

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In the short stories, “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst, “My Brother’s Keeper” by Jay Bennett and in “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, betrayal is represented between the two brothers as one is usually the caretaker of the other brother but their actions seem to also show signs of betrayal that ultimately breaks the bond and trust they once shared. Firstly, in the short story, “My Brother’s Keeper” by Jay Bennett, Ted is a young pro football star who has hit someone and ran off to his brother Jaime. Jaime is a very intelligent person who was valedictorian and received a full scholarship for Yale. But Jaime is now faced with a difficult decision as he is asked by Ted and his lawyer to come up with an alibi to testify in court. On the day …show more content…

Despite Brother knowing the physical limitations Doodle had, Brother pushed him to do things like walking, running, and swimming. Brother had very high expectations and would be very cruel to Doodle because of how much pride Brother had for wanting a “normal” brother. Eventually, when the brothers reached Horsehead Land, a storm began to start so Doodle started to get tired and frightened so they began to head home. Brother begins to walk faster and describes “I heard Doodle, who had fallen behind, cry out, ‘Brother, Brother, don't leave me!’ My knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind. Soon I could hear his voice no more.” (Hurst 182). This quote demonstrates that Brother betrayed Doodle’s trust because of how much pride Brother had for pushing Doodle out of his physical conditions which resulted in leaving him in the storm and outrunning him resulting in Doodles death. Thirdly, in the story “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck, betrayal is shown when George kills Lennie, which could be seen as betrayal of their friendship. George had promised to take good care of Lennie from those who harm Lennie and that they would eventually buy a house together. At the end of the book,

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Brother often foreshadows that Doodle is a burden to bare with. Brother reckons, “The knowledge that Doodle’s and my plans had come to naught was bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awaked. I ran as fast as I could, leaving him far behind with a wall of rain dividing us” (Hurst 6). Just the idea if Doodle in Brother's Plans and the obstacle he would become was too much for Brother to handle. Because if this act Brother is once again showing an act of selfishness.

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Imagine if you just learned something new and the person you trust most leaves you at the most important time. Or if you are in a situation where you are learning how to walk and get left behind to die. Well, that is exactly what happened to Doodle in “The Scarlet Ibis” by James Hurst. The older brother is responsible for Doodle’s death because he left him behind. The first reason the older brother is responsible for Doodle’s death is because the older brother did not listen to Doodle when he said he was too tired for a lesson, and tried to push him too hard.

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Lastly on page 6 paragraph 3 or 4 “bitter, and that streak of cruelty within me awakened.” This goes to show how he already knew that he was going to leave Doodle in the dust just like in the beginning when he wanted to smother him in the pillow. After this all happend Brother regrets his life decisions that he and Doodle ever did. In conclusion I hold him accountable for the death of Doodle.

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So, he asks his brother to give him an alibi in court. Jaime is conflicted because he has to choose between his spotless reputation or his brother's life. Soon enough, Jaime chooses to be selfish and decides to tell the truth about Ted's misdoings. The narrator expresses “Jaime knew he could never again be his brother's keeper” (Bennet 30). Jaime showed an extreme amount of betrayal by choosing his reputation over his own brother's life.

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Brother planned to spend his entire life with Doodle, They "decided that when [they] were grown [they'd] live in Old Woman Swamp and pick dog-tongue" (Hurst). He wanted Doodle to have pride in himself and be able to do everything Brother wanted to do with him. Brother had pride in Doodle since he was first able to stand on his own and walk. He taught Doodle out of his own selfishness, he was ashamed of having an "invalid" brother and wanted to have "someone to race to Horsehead Landing, someone to box with, and someone to perch within the top fork of the great pine behind the barn, where across the fields and swamps you could see the sea" (Hurst). Brother was ashamed of the way he felt and his self-indulgent efforts for Doodle.

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