In the short story Brother Dear, character development is one of the most used elements of storytelling.  A number of factors were important in deciding how the characters were going to be developed, but none of them as important as the authour's own feelings and experiences.  Through analyzing the characters and their development, it is possible to understand more about the authour.  Through details such as the main character's non-stereotypical personality, his attitude towards women, and how the different generations interact, it's possible to learn more about the authour and what was in her mind while she was writing this story.
	There are two main characters in the short story Brother Dear, and both of their personalities go against the common stereotype for their gender.  Since their town was described as small at the beginning of the story, and since the authour grew up in Alberta, it is safe to assume that they are living in a small town in Alberta.  Since Alberta is an overly conservative province, it is also safe to assume that they are living in a small conservative town in Alberta.  Conservatives often have strong traditional values, such as the first, and only, place to go after high school is University, and it's not expected that graduates return home without a degree, save for holidays and special occasions.  Sharlene and Greg's father, Sharlene and Greg being the two main characters of the story, agrees with this sense of tradition a lot.  Their father is made especially happy when he hears about his oldest son who stayed behind at his University for thanksgiving.  �Dad sits back and smiles as if when Dennis does good work, it feels as good to him as a big meal in his belly,� showing how their father would rather his kids to not come home, but do hard work.  This is unfortunate for him, because his other two kids don't share Dennis' attitude.  Greg, who is an active greenpeace member and newfound vegetarian, would rather stand up for his values at a protest in Edmonton, than attend his final exams.  The fact that Greg's personality goes against the common stereotype, and yet he's brave enough to show up for thanksgiving dinner with a father who believes strongly in the stereotype shows that the authour meant for Greg to be a strong and agreeable character.  Also, the fact that it is told through the eyes of Sharlene, who plans to travel Europe for a couple years before attending university, shows that the authour believes it is better to follow your dreams, even if it means going against the status quo, or a fight with your father.  All in all, the authour hid a lot of her feelings in the characters, and this really shines through.

	The short story Brother Dear is a coming-of-age story that is heavily influenced by the authour's own experience.  The way men and women are portrayed come from the authour's own feelings towards how men and women should act, and her feelings towards the common stereotypes thrust upon the different genders.  The authour's respect for men is shown through Greg's gentle and caring personality towards women.  Finally, the way the kids  treat their parents demonstrates the authours opinion of the two different generations and how the authour interprets their actions.  Overall, the authour's feelings  are hidden in this short story, and based on how she portrays the characters and the setting it's possible to get a glimpse of what the authour is like in real life.