# Ralph Wheeler — One of Ours character guide > Ralph Wheeler in One of Ours by Willa Cather. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Ralph **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot Claude's older brother, a practical, good-humored young farmer who manages the family's business and can't quite take his brother's nerves seriously. ## Who they are Ralph is the son who fits: he runs errands, sorts socks, laughs at Claude's tight shoes, and tells his mother the truth about how hard Claude is to manage. He is affectionate but conventional, and his easy competence throws Claude's restlessness into relief. On the wedding morning he becomes the comic witness to his brother's panic — the ordinary brother against whom Claude's extraordinary dissatisfaction is measured. ## Relationships ### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler) _family_ Claude feels a protective, affectionate bond with his younger brother Ralph, who is more carefree and conventional. ### [Mahailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/mahailey) _family_ Mahailey has a simple, affectionate relationship with young Ralph, whom she helped raise in the household. ### [Nat Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/nat_wheeler) _family_ Nat Wheeler favors his younger son Ralph, who is more practical and compliant, over the restless Claude. ### [Mahailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/mahailey) _family_ Mahailey has a simple, affectionate relationship with young Ralph, whom she helped raise in the household. ### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler) _family_ Claude feels a protective, affectionate bond with his younger brother Ralph, who is more carefree and conventional. ### [Mahailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/mahailey) _family_ Mahailey has a simple, affectionate relationship with young Ralph, whom she helped raise in the household. ### [Nat Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/nat_wheeler) _family_ Nat Wheeler favors his younger son Ralph, who is more practical and compliant, over the restless Claude. ### [Claude Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/claude_wheeler) _family_ Claude feels a protective, affectionate bond with his younger brother Ralph, who is more carefree and conventional. ### [Nat Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/nat_wheeler) _family_ Nat Wheeler favors his younger son Ralph, who is more practical and compliant, over the restless Claude. ## In the story ### [One of Ours](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/one-of-ours) Claude's brother, who is more practical and ambitious, contrasting with Claude's idealism. ### [Book I: On Lovely Creek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-i-on-lovely-creek) Claude's younger brother, more practical and content with farm life, creating tension with Claude. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/i) Claude's younger brother, reluctant to get up for the circus. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/iii) Sleeps in, dresses without bathing, drives mother to church, and defends the use of laborsaving devices. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/iv) Claude's younger brother, docile but mischievous; he often persuades Claude to carry out risky plans. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/v) Ralph drives Brother Weldon on his calls and takes Claude to Frankfort to catch the train to Lincoln. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/vii) Drives Claude home and shares neighborhood gossip at supper. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xii) Ralph is to manage the new Colorado ranch with the help of Wested's foreman. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xiii) Ralph eagerly outfits for life in Yucca county, buying furniture, a phonograph, and other goods. He packs preserves and searches for the pickled peaches Mahailey has hidden. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xvi) Ralph comes home for the holidays, tells stories about his neighbors in Yucca county during dinner. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as having written about trouble with his foreman, prompting Mr. Wheeler's departure. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned in Claude's memory: wears a diamond ring won in a poker game, representing wasteful materialism. ### [Book II: Enid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-ii-enid) Ralph's practical and worldly attitude contrasts with Claude's romantic idealism. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as Claude's brother who will water the plants during their wedding trip. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xii) Helps Claude prepare and assists with decorating the Royce house; manages Claude's mood with humor. ### [Book III: Sunrise on the Prairie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-iii-sunrise-on-the-prairie) Claude's brother, involved in family farm affairs. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/v) Accompanies Claude to Denver to see Enid off on the train. ### [Homecoming in Uniform](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/x) Meets Claude at the train station. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xi) Directs harvesters and defers to let Claude spend time with their mother. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/xiii) Joins Claude on a walk, now admiring him; drives the car to take Claude to Frankfort. ### [Book V: “Bidding the Eagles of the West Fly On”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/chapters/book-v-bidding-the-eagles-of-the-west-fly-on) Claude's brother, who outfits for the Colorado ranch and represents the family's practical, land-bound concerns. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters/ralph_wheeler - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/one_of_ours_se/characters