When Brotherly, Sisterly Love Turns Into Nya-Nya-Nya-Nya-Nya
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The Venus-Serena Williams showdown Thursday on Wimbledon’s courtly grounds was a vivid retelling of one of humanity’s oldest dramas--sibling rivalry. The conflict, say psychologists, is rooted in a competition for limited resources, usually the love and attention of parents. This time, older sister Venus, who at 20 is 15 months Serena’s senior, grabbed the glory.
Here’s a look at some notable rivalries and their resolutions.
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Cain and Abel
Cain: Eldest brother. He worked the soil.
Abel: He tended to flocks. Offered God fat portions, making Cain insanely jealous.
Who won: Cain kills Abel and becomes first murderer in Judeo-Christian tradition. Cain also coins the phrase “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
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Bronte Sisters
Charlotte: Eldest. Best known for writing 1847’s “Jane Eyre.”
Emily: Middle child. Best known for writing 1847’s “Wuthering Heights.”
Anne: Youngest. Published “Agnes Grey” in 1847 but is best known for being “that other Bronte.”
Who won: No one. Like characters in their fiction, everyone died young.
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The Marx Brothers
Leonard “Chico” Marx: Eldest. A charming gambler, helped manage the brothers’ career.
Adolph “Harpo” Marx: Second surviving son. Best known for curly hair and horn.
Julius Henry “Groucho” Marx: the middle brother. The star. Best known for shooting an elephant in his pajamas, and how the elephant got in his pajamas he never knew.
Milton “Gummo” Marx: Second youngest. Best known for being the forgotten Marx brother.
Herbert “Zeppo” Marx: Youngest. Foil for Groucho or Chico.
Who won: Groucho.
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Shirley and Warren
Shirley MacLaine: Older sister. She’s out on a limb. She took heat for believing in reincarnation and past lives.
Warren Beatty: Younger brother. He’s so vain. He took heat for . . . his conquests.
Who won: In this life, Warren has 13 nominations and one win. Shirley has five nominations and one win. Tiebreaker: Warren has the Irving Thalberg Award.
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The Jacksons
Michael: Older brother. Best known for catchy tunes, a glove and his love of zoo animals.
Janet: Younger sister. Best known for distancing herself from the Jackson 5 and her ditsy sister LaToya.
Who won: Michael has sold 50 million records to Janet’s paltry 22 million.
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