Analysis of the Theme of Sibling Relationships in Select Works of Literature

Authors, through their various works of literature, play a significant role in bringing to the attention of their audience the nature of sibling relationships. Sibling relationships and the character of children in families are influenced to a great extent by such factors as birth order, socioeconomic status of parents, the presence or lack thereof of fathers and father figures as well as their influence and also gender similarities or differences. Overview of the Three Stories John Boyne’s The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is a Holocaust novel that tells the story of Bruno, a 9-year-old boy growing up in Berlin during World War II and who has to move with his family to Auschwitz following the promotion of his father.

In Auschwitz, Bruno and his family live next to a Jewish concentration camp. The graveness of the Jewish holocaust is portrayed through Bruno’s relationship with Shmuel; a Jewish boy from the concentration camp that Bruno becomes friends with. They are courageous and will often take up tasks that their siblings would probably shy aware from due to fear. Also, they are less likely to be disobedient and troublesome as compared to their younger siblings. In The Hunger Games, this is depicted through the character of Katniss Everdeen. In spite of being so young, she is the rock of her family. After the death of her father in a coal-mining accident, she has to take over her father’s role as the head of the household.

 (Collins4. 19) In spite of this, she does not give up. This is an indication of her strong spirit and sense of responsibility as a firstborn. Her protective and caring nature is seen even in The Hunger Gamesarena. She takes up Rue, a young girl from District 11 who she says reminds her of her younger sister Prim, even when it is obvious that Rue wouldn’t make a great partner as she is not as good as Katniss. In The Boy with Stripped Pyjamas, birth order doesn’t seem to have any impact on the personality of Bruno and Gretel. Bruno, in spite of being the last born, passes off as more disciplined and is effortlessly his parents’ favorite child: “He would miss you both equally,’ said Mother, for she was a great believer in not playing favorites, which Bruno respected, especially since he knew that he was her favorite really” (Boyne 7).

Bruno is very polite as is seen in his interaction with their housemaid Maria. He is also very honest and kind as is depicted through his kindness towards Shmuel that leads to his death. Gretel, on the other hand, is not as responsible as is expected of first-born children. ‘Prim!’I don't need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me. ‘I volunteer!’ I gasp. Peter Rabbit is definitely not close to his sister mainly because his personality is completely different from theirs. Had they been close, they would have perhaps been able to convince him that going into McGregor’s farm was a very bad idea.

The presence of a father figure in the life of children plays a significant role in the shaping of their character, beliefs and generally impacts how they turn out. While a mother is equally as important, fathers are usually of much more influence first because they are the head of the family and also because they are more authoritative and consequently influential. In The Hunger Games, the impact that a father figure has on the children is seen in the character of Katniss. McGregor and Mother Rabbit consequently has to handle parenting her four bunnies by herself. While Flopsy, Cottontail, and Mopsy are obedient and adhere to what Mother Rabbit tells them, Peter is unruly and rebellious as is seen through his act of going into McGregor’s farm to steal even after his mother has warned him and his sisters against it since it is where their father was killed (Porter n.

p. Had Father Rabbit still been alive, Peter would have definitely been more obedient and responsible as he would have more effectively exercised authority over him than Mother Rabbit. In The Boy with Stripped Pyjamas, the lack of an influential father figure is arguably the reason why Bruno ends up dead. In The Hunger Games, this is portrayed by Katniss Everdeen. In spite of being so young, she has to step up and start looking after her family when her father, who was the sole breadwinner, dies in a coal mine accident. Her mother is unable to provide for the family because she goes into depression as she is unable to deal with the loss of her husband. Katniss goes hunting and foraging bringing back home income and food for her mother and sister (Collins 4.

Katniss is undoubtedly more responsible than other children of her age as is seen from her interaction with Peeta during the hunger games. While it is expected that Bruno would generally be spoilt and spiteful due to his background, he is very warm, humble and generous. He makes friends with Shmuel totally overlooking the difference in status between them. Nearly every day, he sneaks some food for Shmuel and even offers to help him look for his father. This is an indication that contrary to the general belief, socio-economic status of a family doesn’t always impact the personality of children in that family. In The Tale of Peter Rabbit, the same is also true. David Fickling Books, January 5, 2006. Collins, S.