First recognized by Francis Galton in 1874, birth order remains a psychological theory within the social sciences today. The theory itself states that the birth order of siblings establishes certain predetermined traits for each child. According to psychologist Frank Sulloway, as explained in his publication Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives, firstborns tend to be more conservative, pro-establishment, and "tough-minded." than their younger brothers and sisters (Freese, Powell). and Steelman 208).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get the original essay In The Fishermen, the novel by Chigozie Obioma, birth order is a clear underlying theme that influences family dynamics within the Agwu clan. How do the roles and expectations of the different Agwu brothers Ikenna, Boja, Obembe and Benjamin, delegated according to their age, affect their relationships and personalities? A significant portion of Benjamin Agwu's identity and behavior throughout Fishermen can be explained by birth order theory and its evolution regarding Ben throughout the novel, particularly examining the general role that he plays within his family and through interactions with his siblings, both as a middle child, and when the responsibilities of an older child are thrust upon him. In most fishermen, nine-year-old Ben Agwu is a quiet observer of his family, and his older brothers in particular. The third youngest in a family of six children, he technically occupies the position of middle child. Ben's family role evolves several times over the course of the novel, originally presented as the youngest of the four protagonist brothers. His older brother, Ikenna, acts as a leader and example to the rest of his brothers. Boja, the second eldest, is presented as Ikenna's close confidant, even though he is younger and still considered of lower rank: "they had mutual respect" (Obioma 43). Obembe is treated much like Ben in this sibling hierarchy, considered a younger child, although he still possesses influence over Benjamin because he is older. Ben, the youngest of four older brothers, has almost no say in what he does or when, and often must simply follow where his older siblings lead. If Ikenna and Boja ask his opinion, it is often out of obligation and his suggestions are rarely taken seriously due to his youth being comparable to that of the other men in his family. Ben says, "I almost never saw [Ikenna and Boja] arguing, unlike how they would answer my questions with a flat 'no,' 'wrong,' or 'incorrect.'" (Obioma 43) . A sort of “pack” mentality. is prevalent, as the four brothers constantly travel together, acting on the orders of Ikenna, who their father declared to be their leader. “They do everything you do and go everywhere you go. It is to their credit, the way you all follow each other” (Obioma 39), says Eme Agwu, summing up the brotherhood of his sons. Together they fish, plan and execute revenge missions, and go on general adventures. The influence of birth order is extremely evident in examining the relationships between the Agwu brothers. Ikenna (before Abulu's evil prophecy) exhibited several traits noted by Freese, Powell and Steelman as being characteristic of a firstborn, including academic prowess (Obioma 9), support from existing authorities (Obioma 60-61) and increased responsibilities (Obioma 9). 39). On the other hand, Ben, whois the youngest of the Agwu sons capable of venturing out independently of their parents, apparently relying entirely on the advice of his older brothers. Ben alludes to this when he says, "I depended mainly on Obembe to help me clarify things" (Obioma 20), and puts it into practice when he has difficulty understanding his father's speech.manipulation of the term “fishermen”: “looking for the meaning, I looked at Obembe” (Obioma 37). In their article “Rebel Without a Cause or Effect: Birth Order and Social Attitudes,” Freese, Powell, and Steelman provide a comprehensive examination of birth order theory, particularly in relation to Sulloway's studies. Generally speaking, “later-born” children are expected to be more liberal thinkers, perform worse academically, and act less responsibly than their older siblings (Freese, Powell, and Steelman 209). However, in a study of more than 3,800 scientists, Sulloway found that later-born scientists are twice as likely to adopt radical new ideas early on as scientists who were eldest. This willingness to adopt new ideas is reflected in Benjamin in his equally quick (and sometimes blind) acceptance of his brother's projects. An illustration of this point can be found in Ben and Obembe's beginnings as fishermen. "Then one day, Ikenna said to Obembe and me: 'Follow us, and we will make you fishermen!' – and we followed” (Obioma 12) shows the rapid acceptance of the forbidden concept of fishing by Ben and Obembe, the youngest. of the four protagonist siblings, at the simple call of their older brother. Ben and Obembe's behavior and responses towards their older brothers show the internal drive that the later born brothers possess to please Ikenna and Boja. In the acute absence of their father, Ikenna, and Boja to a lesser extent, represent the delegated male authority of House Agwu. Therefore, a certain amount of power is granted to Ikenna and Boja, which translates into a basic internal desire expressed by Ben and Obembe to please their older brothers. Ben in particular, as the youngest of the four, was conditioned to naturally follow in the footsteps of his older siblings, so much so that it became a key part of what Sigmund Freud identified as the "id" of an individual. Ben's basic human desire for acceptance, affirmation, and belonging seeks to be fulfilled through his relationships with his older siblings. As the novel progresses, Ben's world becomes more and more tumultuous as he loses each of his older siblings. Initially, Ikenna's death and Boja's simultaneous disappearance (later discovered to be a suicide) move Ben from a position of trust within his family to a position of influence, leaving Benjamin and Obembe more great responsibilities, because Obembe must assume leadership of his family, and Ben must become his brother's supporter in this task. Ben describes the feeling of losing his brothers as "the feeling that a cloth canopy or umbrella under which we had always sheltered was being torn apart, leaving me exposed" (Obioma 175). He reveals: "I had never lived without my brothers... I simply followed their example... I had lived with them, I relied on them so much that no concrete thought ever formed in my mind without first floating in their heads” ( Obioma 272). The first time Ben truly attempts to assert himself is actually when he questions Obembe's insistence on killing Abulu, although he eventually admits to helping his brother in his murder plot ( Obioma 200). Additionally, when Obembe decides to flee the consequences of him and Ben's murder of Abulu, Ben suddenly finds himself not only 4.