It is possible to say that the life and views of Donald are doomed by the darkness and weak personal values. Philosophical conflict is evident in the style of life and attitude towards life shared by Pete and Donald. In particular, Wolff suggests that social problems result primarily not from the flaws in any particular social system but in the philosophy and attitude towards life.
“There was something wrong with me, and you were helping out. “And it came to him that it would be just like this unfair life for Donald to come out ahead in the end.” (Wolff 268) The emphasis is on private property which has led to a strict class-oriented society in which the relatively rich grow increasingly prosperous through the labors of the impoverished masses. Economic conflict heated their spiritual and philosophical differences and leads to envy and the disagreements between two brothers regarding the career choices and way of living. Pete and Donald belong to different social classes and have different level of income. In contrast, Donald’s dream is not an uncommon one among young men, that painting will lend him its sophistication and take him from being and awkward to suave and debonair “Their parents managed to be decent people without making fools of themselves, and Pete had the same ambition” (Wolff 257). Wolff does not portray happy life stories, but more the kind of stories that recognize the rough and the smooth in the readers’ worlds, and offer the reassurance of compromised outcomes such as those readers may encounter in their own lives.
(Wolff 256).ĭreams, and the occupations or life-styles they lead to, can also be a source of vulnerability when threats to their existence endanger the person’s self-identity. “Do you ever dream about us? – Donald asks Pete”.
The rivalry between Pete and Donald continues to be a source of tension as life proceeds. The main conflict between brothers is based on spiritual differences.
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