At the root of most stories is conflict; the protagonist versus the antagonist. This conflict is what works to drive the plot and contributes to the climax and resolutions of a story. The conflicts in a story are not always obvious and most of the time there are several conflicts within the same story. This case is no different for Brothers and Keepers by John Edgar Wideman. Wideman's work is a memoir that focuses on a comparison between him and his brother that aims to understand how each of them ended up where they did in life. In this work of Wideman there are many conflicts, protagonists and antagonists. One of the main conflicts that arises throughout the novel is between Robby (the protagonist) and Institutions (the antagonist). (Abbott 55). The institution as an antagonist represents many different places/ideas for Robby. However, the first and perhaps most obvious conflict is between Robby and the law as an institution. Robby faces an immediate run-in with the law after initially being arrested and placed in prison. There was a period of two years between Robby's arrest and his conviction. This in itself is a conflict and shows the institutions acting as the main adversary of the hero. “Although his constitutional rights to a speedy trial and conviction were clearly violated, neither these nor any other wrongs…were brought to the attention of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court…” (Wideman 19). The conflict continues because the Pennsylvania Supreme Court took three years to reject his appeal, and by that time Robby was already in the Western State Penitentiary, serving a life sentence. This section of the book is considered a conflict because it was a barrier that Robby faced. This conflict has never been... middle of paper ...... recognized as the antagonist. This does not mean that Robby is our hero and the institutions are the anti-hero, but rather it means that the institution is the constant oppressor that Robby must continually fight against just to gain the rights that should be afforded to him as a citizen. Robby faced and still faces a daily battle against the institution to maintain his humanity, dignity and vigilance to continue living and fighting. Works CitedAbbot, Porter H. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. New York: Cambridge UP, 2009.Print.Wideman, John Edgar. Brothers and Guardians. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1984.Print.Wideman, John E. "Brothers and Guardians in Two Cities: Social and Cultural Consciousness, Art and Imagination: An Interview with John Edgar Wideman." » Interview conducted by Jacqueline Berben-Masi. Callaloo 1999: 568-84. WSULIBS. Web.