A Comparison of Values in The Rich Brother by Tobias Wolff

The characters’ view on money reveals how they use their ambition to gain love from others, while a few do so through generosity. For instance, during Thanksgiving, Adam emphasized that he didn’t ship the lettuce to New York “for a profit,” but as a game to see if he could succeed in providing people with fresh lettuce (543). When Cal tried to give Adam the money to make up for the losses, Adam refused because his conscience wouldn’t allow him to take the money. Adam is morally disturbed because he just wants to aid others and places no true value in money. On the other hand, all Cal was doing was “trying to buy”Adam’s love (543). Adam refusing Cal’s gift, made it seem that Cal did

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.

is trying to earn a living as a cleaner which is a poor job and she is

Wealth is a symbol because the two Black men think of wealth as security, not being hungry anymore, warmth, and HAPPINESS.” But wealth is a two-way street. The white man, Edward, thinks of wealth as something to waste, and UNHAPPINESS.

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.

In the article, "Stupid Rich Bastards", the author, Laurel Johnson Black, gives an insight on her life and upbringing in a "poor" family, the effects it had on her, her life goals, and dreams. Black’s article was published in the book This Fine Place So Far from Home: Voices of Academics from the Working Class in 1995. Throughout the article, Black gives an explanation of the conditions in which she and her family lived in, which include her parents having to take on various jobs such as her father being a plumber, junk man, car salesman and her mother—a cook, school crossing-guard and a McDonald 's counter worker as well. With all these jobs, Black also mentioned that the income was still inadequate. Being that her family 's way of living was not the best, her parents decided that one of their children has to make it or go to college, and Black was the one who was going to be the one to do that. She did this with hopes that she would earn more money, be able to make a better life for her and her family, maneuver along with the "stupid rich bastards", talk like them, learn their ways but not be like them, and explain to her family about the lives of the same "stupid rich bastards", people who had or made more money and had better lives or felt better than others. Along with her telling her story, the main purpose of Black’s story is to bring to our attention that she is trying to “keep the language of the working class in academia” (Black 25).

In the short story “The Devil and Tom Walker”, the author shows greed by the main character selling his soul for a large treasure, being a cheap and greedy moneylender, and the lack of the main character and his wife sharing the wealth between each other in order to show that people will do anything for money and become rich.

The presidency is Trump’s ultimate deal. Politics has run in the Trump family for a century. Spreading the cash around to acquire political favors is a Trump mainstay–it was for dad Fred and it is for Donald. The apple has not fallen far from the

In Lorraine's Hansberry A Raisin In The Sun. Walter wants to make money to support his family. He wants money because he thinks it makes him a “man”. How ever when his money is stolen, Walter’s perceptions of manhood shifts from valuing wealth and power to valuing family and pride.

Tom’s parents always flaunted their wealth; as did Tom’s grandparents. Their family was old money at its finest. It was the summer of 1903 in Chicago, a blinding day, the sun was beating down on the faces of the Buchanan family, who were sat in their 7-Sedan Rolls-Royce. For the Buchanan family this was less than a splurge, $12,900 was nothing to the Buchanan’s as they were old money. Tom sat in the back with his mother, breathing in the hot, muggy air. The chauffeur was sitting in the front on the brown leather seats driving. The chauffeur never talked in fear of being reprimanded by Mrs Buchanan.

Thirdly, “The Rich Brother” Pete feels he is responsible for his brother after his parent’s death. He thinks that Donald is hard to handle since he sees the goodness in every people and could be easily be fooled. In the article,

In this cartoon Donald Trump is seen on top of a podium that is labeled “PAID NO TAXES” and is peeing on a man on the ground standing below him wearing an American flag shirt and holding a sign that says “MIDDLE CLASS.” Donald Trump represents the rich that do not pay as much for taxes as the people in the middle class would.

Bernie: Helping others have a better life creates a sense of fulfillment that cannot be replaced by substances. Long term happiness can be found in love and making change for the better. It

“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.