The Rich Brother Tobias Wolff Analysis

How can two brothers, who were both raised together be so different? In the short story called “The Rich Brother” by Tobias Wolff, there are two brothers named Pete and Donald, who are completely and utterly different from their appearance to the way they think. Pete on one side is “Stout and hearty” and Donald on the other hand is “bony, grave and obsessed with the fate of his sole” (Wolff). Not only are the two brothers different in appearance but as the story goes on, it is shown that not only are they different in appearance, they are also completely different in their decisions and the way they think. A big difference between the two brothers, that is most likely the reason for them having totally different beliefs is that Pete is wealthy

Being not religious is a big one for Pete because the thing he values most in this world is his money. Pete’s wealth gives him a sense of believing in himself instead of believing in religion or a god to help him. Pete looks at religion like it’s foolish, so his wealth and possession are really the only things that are valuable to him, like for example, Pete buys a new car just because he could. Pete’s values are important to him only when it comes to what he wants material wise. Pete’s important values becomes very apparent when Donald gives money to a stranger in this example; “Why did you give it to him? A hundred dollars. Gone. Just like that. I worked for that money, Donald” (Wolff). In the end, Pete only cares about how people see him through what he owns and how wealthy he is, which is completely different then his brother

Donald’s passion in life is about helping people and he believes that everyone should have the same as others. Unlike his brother, Donald feels like sharing is the best and the most honorable way to live. When Webster says, “Everyone will prosper together.” Donald replies “That’s great. That’s the way it ought to be” (Wolff), this shows how important it is to Donald that everyone can be at the same place, whether it’s financially or happiness, all Donald wants is for everyone to succeed together. Another value Donald has is helping people that are in need of help. In the short story, Pete and Donald are eating dinner at Denny’s when a man comes up and asks what direction they are headed. The man proceeds to explain that his daughter is urgently sick and they are in need of assistance heading to Santa Cruz. Before Pete could say anything, Donald’s sense of helping others came into play. When asked if there was any room in the car for the man and his sick daughter, Donald immediately stated “No problem, we’ve got tons of room” (Wolff). Donald even says that he will put his stuff in the trunk, just to make room for the man and his daughter. This just shows how unselfish and how important it is to Donald for others to be helped out, no matter what. Donald’s real values caused him to put his own needs behind the needs of others, unlike