Relationships Between Brothers

In the traditional relationship between brothers, the older brother is a caregiver to the younger brother. In the novel As Brave as You, two sets of brothers exemplify this idealistic behavior. The relationship between Ernie and Genie is seen through their interactions, conversations, and attitudes. Then, the relationship between their father Ernest Ernest and his brother Wood is seen through the memories and stories Grandpop and Grandma share. The older brother of each set feels responsible for protecting his younger brother and tries to do so in various ways. The younger brothers are dependent, and they only step into a different role when they feel the need.

As the older brother of Genie, Ernie feels a sense of responsibility for his younger sibling. While Ernie never talks about that responsibility, his actions show that he consciously fills that role. One of the earliest examples...