What are the motifs in Robert Kennedy and His Times by Arthur Meier Schlesinger?

Personal growth is a recurring idea. A variety of factors determine the adult that an individual becomes—family relationships, genetic and environmental circumstances, significant events, education—and this was certainly apparent in the story of Robert Kennedy. Born into wealth and privilege, Robert Kennedy might have had options most others do not. His parents,however, and especially his father, set courses for their sons that would have made frivolous lifestyles impossible. Joe Kennedy Sr. insisted that the four sons be competitive, athletic, academically solid and aggressive. Of the four sons, Robert was perhaps the least of any of these, far more introverted and gentle than his brothers, but bent on meeting his father's expectations. Tenacity and diligence thus became an integral part of his character, although gentle compassion was retained, albeit temporarily buried, within his character.