Answer:
In "New Chicago," the theme making difficult choices shows us what we truly value is revealed through the thoughts and actions of the main character and his brother. Again and again, the brothers show through their choices that they value each other's happiness over their own. For instance, Tyler makes money working for McClintock, "the most feared man in New Chicago," so the brothers can move to the safety of Garfield Park someday. The work is dangerous, but Tyler chooses to do it because he "want[s] better for Cole... He always had." This demonstrates that Tyler values his brother's future over his own immediate safety. In addition, Cole is willing to work for McClintock to raise more money for the move to Garfield Park while Tyler is willing to let Cole use the money they have to go alone to Garfield Park. The narrator says, "there was the impasse. Cole wouldn't go without Tyler, and Tyler wouldn't let him work for McClintock." This impasse reveals how much the brothers value each other. Either brother could make another choice that would benefit him a little more, but neither one does. Toward the end of the story, Cole struggles with how to use his last wish on the monkey's paw: give his brother a merciful death or try to cure him. He thinks about what Tyler would want. "Cole knew what Tyler would want him to wish for. Grant Tyler a merciful passing." Then, he thinks about his own life, "a life without Tyler... What kind of future was that?" While the infected and enraged Tyler beats on the door, Cole makes his choice. The narrator tells us "the door went still." This implies that Cole has given Tyler a merciful death and shows, as a result, that he values his brother's well-being over his own desire to keep his brother alive. The difficult choices the brothers make reveal just how deeply they value each other.
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