Abstract
Psychoanalytic theorists (Bettelheim 1977:105-106, 236-277; Spiro 1982:98-101) interpret the representation of siblings in myths and popular folktales as symbolic recastings of parent-child relations. Spiro (1982:98-101) observed that male sibling rivalry in myths is an expression of male oedipal rivalry where the brother as well as the father appear as obstacles to monopolizing the mother's affections. This paper describes and explains contrasting representations of male siblings in similar folktales in two different cultures in the Hispanic world. It argues that representations of brothers in popular folktales told by Cfaceres (Spain) and Nahuat (Mexico) villagers vary according to the father's relationship with his sons. I contend that Cgaceres fathers play a relatively minor role in caring for infant children and, consequently, reproduce in their sons weaker abilities (Chodorow 1978:169) that storytellers represent by depicting brothers as autonomous and hoardingrather than sharing their wealth-and as sexual rivals. The comparatively reduced relational capacities are part of nuclear family
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