Summary

This story is about two brothers Paul and Benjy. Both brothers can be considered to
be ‘Blood Brothers’ because they are thirteen year old twins. Despite the fact that
Paul and Benjy are twins; they both display different personality traits. Paul is an
introvert who loves nature and he loves to contemplate about life. Whereas, Benjy
is Paul’s polar opposite. This further reinforces that although both boys are
genetically related that is where the commonality ends. Benjy is an extrovert who
is very carefree and fun loving. However, Paul thinks his brother believes he is
superior and as a result he grows to hate him. Paul is conflicted about his feelings
because deep down he wants Benjy to be his friend and confidant. The story ends
with Paul attacking Benjy. Benjy is surprised and confused because he did not
know or understand why Paul reacted in this way.

Characters
Paul:
★ Paul is an introvert.
★ He is artistic and he paints pictures
★ He loves nature.
★ He is also very reflective. He contemplates nature as well as his feelings
towards his brother.
★ He dislikes Benjy’s ability to accomplish simple tasks quickly.
★ He resents Benjy because he reminds him of his own shortcomings.
★ He envies Benjy and his envy turns to hate.
★ He thought Benjy feels he is superior to him.

Benjy:
★ He is an extrovert and carefree
★ He is confident.
★ He is a typical boy, very active, adventurous and always exploring.
★ He is ignorant to his brother’s disdain for him.
★ He felt he is superior to Paul.
★ He mocks Paul.

Mac:
★ He is an old shoe maker in the village. Both boys go to visit him.
Narrative Point of View:
Third Person Narrative (Child Narration)

Setting: The story takes place in an unnamed village.

Conflict: Paul envies Benjy carefree personality as a result of this he grew to hate
Benjy. This hate resulted in him attacking his brother.

Themes:

Love and family relationships

Childhood Experiences
Appearance vs Reality

CHARACTERS/CHARACTERIZATION Paul: o o o o o o o o o

Paul is an introvert. He is artistic (he paints) He loves nature. He is also very

reflective. He contemplates about nature as well as his feeling towards his
brother. He dislikes Benjy’s ability to accomplish simple tasks quickly. He
resents Benjy because he (Benjy) reminds him of his own short comings. He
envies Benjy and his envy turns to hate. He thought Benjy feels he (Benjy) is
superior to him. Twin brother of Benjy.

Benjy: o o o o o o o o

He is an extrovert and a carefree guy. He is confident. He is fearless (until

his brother attacks him). He is a typical boy, very active, adventurous and
always exploring. He is ignorant to his brother’s disdain for him. He felt he is
superior to Paul. He mocks Paul. Twin brother of Paul.

Mac: o
He is an old shoe maker in the village. Both boys go to visit him.

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE: o Third Person POV

NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE: o o o o o o

Irony Symbolism (the title) Characterization Nature imagery Dualism

Realism

o Diction/dialogue

SETTING: o

The story takes place in an unnamed village. It is highly possible that it is a

tropical country.

CONFLICT: o

Paul envies Benjy’s carefree/brave/adventurous personality, as a result he

grew to loathe Benjy. This hate resulted in him physically ‘attacking’ his
brother in a ‘duel’ that could be misconstrued as ‘rough play’.

THEMES:

Family relationship. Childhood experiences and identity. Appearance vs

Reality. Sibling rivalry. The psychology of hatred. Power and powerlessness
Masculine identity
In Blood Brothers by John Wickham we have the theme of hate, conflict
discontent, connection, jealousy, fear, independence and confidence. Narrated
in the third person by an unnamed narrator the reader realises after reading
the story that Wickham may be exploring the theme of hate and conflict. Paul
is uncomfortable with his relationship with his twin brother Benjy. He
dislikes the fact that Benjy appears to be able to do things that Paul himself
cannot do. Paul also dislikes not being as brave as Benjy and in many ways
uses Benjy as his benchmark for doing things. This may be important as
Wickham may be suggesting that Paul compares himself to Benjy. When the
reality is he has no need to. If anything Benjy’s influence on Paul affects
Paul’s confidence and his belief in himself. Which may be the point that
Wickham is attempting to make. He may be suggesting that should a person
continually compare themselves to another person they will inevitably be
unhappy. Something which is very much the case when it comes to Paul. He
is an unhappy child based solely on what he perceives are his inadequacies.
At no stage does Paul think of the things that he is good at rather his main
focus is on how he is not as good as Benjy at things.

There is also a sense that Paul is afraid of failure or at least what he perceives
to be failure. The walk at night time with his father and Benjy being an
example. Yet at the same time Paul wants to make a connection with Benjy.
Even if it means that he feels as though he is second best to Benjy. This too
may be important as Wickham could be highlighting how deep and strong the
bond is between Paul and Benjy. Though Paul may hate Benjy. He still wants
to be his friend. He wants to have a loving relationship with his brother.
Benjy’s character is also interesting as he appears to be completely secure
within himself and free of other people’s opinion of him. Unlike Paul who
seems to judge himself based solely on Benjy’s actions. If anything Paul
lacks the independence to be his own person and some critics might suggest
that Paul is jealous of Benjy’s abilities. If this is the case then Paul will never
be happy as he will always be looking to see if he can better Benjy rather
than living each day as it comes.

There is also some symbolism in the story which may be important. The
casuarina tree and the appearance it takes on at both night and day time in
many ways mirrors Paul’s change in mood when he and Benjy are at Mac’s.
The angelic appearance of the tree during the day in many ways mirrors how
Paul lives his life. However the appearance that the tree takes on in the
evening when it is dark also mirrors Paul’s reaction to Benjy when Benjy
asks him to play with him. The leather that Paul is punching holes into may
also have some symbolic significance as the reader is aware that the leather in
Mac’s shop is used to make and repair shoes. By having Paul playing with the
leather Wickham could be symbolically suggesting that Paul is making a new
pair of shoes to walk in. Something that is clearer to the reader when Paul
attacks Benjy. The fact that Mac is unaware of what is happening and thinks
that both boys are playing may also be important as it could suggest that the
battle that Paul feels he is facing with Benjy is not a public battle but a
personal battle.

The end of the story is also interesting as Wickham appears to be exploring

the theme of fear. Benjy is afraid of Paul after he threatens him with the sharp
awl. For the first time in the story Benjy shows fear. This may be important
as it is through showing fear that the reader suspects that Benjy may now
have an understanding for how Paul feels. In reality the attack connects both
Paul and Benjy. Though at the time neither boy would be aware of this. It is
also possible that through the experience of the attack both Paul and Benjy
will become closer to one another. With Benjy probably knowing or
understanding how Paul feels. If anything their relationship will grow and
prosper. Paul has stood up for himself and by doing so has defined himself.
Whether he meant to do so is another thing but the important thing is that he
has done it. He has stood on his own two feet and not let Benjy get the better
of him. Which may leave some readers to suggest that Benjy will treat Paul
as an equal rather than as somebody that he can taunt and use for his own
amusement.