Brendan Murphy in The Dating Plan: Character Analysis

Overview

Brendan Murphy is Liam's older brother, a conservative, ambitious businessman who initially stands as the primary obstacle to Liam's inheritance of the family distillery. He is introduced as a rule-follower and a 'typical firstborn' who has been at odds with Liam since childhood. Over the course of The Dating Plan, Brendan evolves from a bitter antagonist who challenges the fake engagement and plans to demolish the distillery into a reconciled brother who shares family secrets and helps Liam find closure. His arc is central to the novel's exploration of family legacy, control, and the cost of keeping secrets.

Plot Role

Brendan's role is twofold: he is the catalyst for the central fake-engagement plot, and he serves as a foil to Liam's spontaneous, risk-taking nature. When the will is read, the distillery is left to Liam on the condition that he marry within a year; if he fails, it goes to Brendan. Brendan immediately announces his intention to knock down the distillery and sell the land to save his own company, Murphy Motors. This threat forces Liam to seek a fake fiancée, leading him to reconnect with Daisy. Brendan also challenges the authenticity of the engagement at a family gathering, accusing Daisy of being a paid actress and threatening legal action. His skepticism creates tension and forces Liam and Daisy to solidify their story. Later, Brendan's own desperation—revealed through his company's fraud scandal—humanizes him and sets up the reconciliation.

Motivations and Traits

Brendan is driven by a combination of duty, resentment, and a desperate need to save his family's car business. He believes the distillery is rightfully his by tradition, as the oldest son, and he resents that his grandfather favored Liam. He also seeks the approval of his deceased father, a man who was abusive to Liam and their mother. The text shows Brendan saying he wishes his father were alive to see how he saved Murphy Motors, indicating a deep, unresolved need for paternal validation. His actions—hiring contractors without authorization, confronting Daisy, and fighting with Liam—demonstrate his rigid, controlling nature. However, he is also shown to be capable of change. When he learns the truth about his father's abuse and his own company's fraud, he softens and reaches out to Liam.

Chronological Arc

Brendan's arc can be traced through several key moments:

The Will Reading (Chapter 4): Brendan learns that the distillery will go to Liam if he marries, and he immediately plans to demolish it. He dismisses Liam's claim of being engaged as 'bullshit' and challenges him to bring his fiancée to dinner.
The Family Confrontation (Chapter 16): At a family gathering, a drunk Brendan accuses Daisy of being a paid hooker and threatens to destroy Liam with lawyers. The two brothers get into a physical fight, revealing years of pent-up resentment. Brendan claims he stayed home to deal with their father's 'shit,' while Liam insists Brendan did nothing to help their mother.
The Discovery of Fraud (Chapter 23): Joe reveals to Liam that Brendan's company is in serious trouble—their father and other directors were involved in fraud, and the company's assets are frozen. Brendan didn't know about the fraud, but he is desperate to save the business. This explains his aggressive attempts to sell the distillery.
The Reconciliation (Chapters 27 and 30): After Liam receives a partnership offer in New York, Brendan calls him repeatedly. In a phone call, they share a laugh, and Brendan says, 'Come home. Please. She won't leave me alone until you do. That story was one hell of a wake-up call.' Later, Brendan invites Liam to the distillery for a last look before demolition. They share a drink, and Brendan admits he still resents Liam for leaving with their mother without telling him. Liam explains the night of the prom and the abuse, and Brendan finally understands. He promises to take care of the distillery employees and shows genuine remorse.

Relationships

With Liam: The central relationship. Initially antagonistic, marked by childhood rivalry and misunderstanding. Brendan resents Liam for leaving and for being their grandfather's favorite. Liam resents Brendan for staying with their abusive father. Their reconciliation comes when they finally share the truth about their family's secrets.
With Lauren and Jaxon: Brendan is married to Lauren and has a young son, Jaxon. Lauren often mediates between the brothers, and Jaxon idolizes his father. Brendan's love for his son is evident, and his desire to save Murphy Motors is partly to provide for his family.
With Daisy: Brendan is hostile to Daisy at first, seeing her as a fraud. He challenges her and accuses her of being paid. However, after the reconciliation, he accepts her as part of the family, as seen in the later chapters where he is present at the wedding.
With His Father: Brendan seeks his father's approval even after his death, despite the father's abuse. This is a key motivation for his actions.
With His Grandfather: Brendan believes his grandfather never liked him, and he feels cheated by the will's terms. This fuels his bitterness.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Deciding to demolish the distillery: This decision sets the plot in motion and creates the central conflict. It forces Liam to find a fake fiancée and leads to his reunion with Daisy.
Hiring contractors without authorization: This act shows Brendan's desperation and willingness to bend rules. It nearly leads to a physical confrontation with Liam, but Joe's intervention prevents escalation.
Confronting Daisy and Liam at the family gathering: This public challenge forces Liam and Daisy to defend their relationship and ultimately strengthens their bond.
Inviting Liam to the demolition: This is a turning point. Instead of excluding Liam, Brendan invites him to say goodbye, showing a willingness to share the loss.
Reconciling with Liam: By sharing his own perspective and listening to Liam's story, Brendan breaks the cycle of secrecy and resentment. This allows both brothers to move forward.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Brendan embodies several of the novel's themes. His rigid control and need to follow tradition contrast with Liam's spontaneity, linking to the theme of control vs. spontaneity. His desire to save Murphy Motors at the expense of the distillery reflects the tension between career ambition and personal happiness. His fear of being abandoned by Liam and his eventual vulnerability connect to the theme of fear of abandonment and its impact on trust. Finally, his role as a confidant who shares family secrets ties into the theme of the role of a confidant in building vulnerability. The distillery itself symbolizes the family legacy and the weight of expectations, which Brendan initially wants to destroy but ultimately learns to honor.

Questions and Answers

Why does Brendan initially oppose Liam's inheritance of the distillery?

Brendan believes the distillery should be his by tradition, as the oldest son. He also needs the money from selling the land to save his own company, Murphy Motors, which is in financial trouble. He resents that his grandfather favored Liam and sees the inheritance as an injustice.

What does Brendan learn about his father's abuse?

Brendan learns that his father physically abused their mother and Liam. He had stayed with his father after Liam left, believing he was the one dealing with their father's 'shit,' but he didn't know the full extent of the abuse. Liam's explanation of the night of the prom reveals the truth, and Brendan expresses remorse.

How does Brendan's view of Liam change over the course of the novel?

Initially, Brendan sees Liam as a reckless, selfish runaway who abandoned the family. After learning about the abuse and Liam's role in saving their mother, Brendan realizes Liam was protecting her. He also sees that Liam genuinely loves Daisy, which makes the engagement real. By the end, Brendan respects Liam and wants to reconcile.

What role does Brendan play in the reconciliation between the brothers?

Brendan initiates the reconciliation by calling Liam and inviting him to the distillery. He shares his own feelings of abandonment and listens to Liam's story. This mutual vulnerability allows them to forgive each other and move forward as a family.

How does Brendan's relationship with his son Jaxon reflect his character?

Brendan is a devoted father who wants to provide for Jaxon and give him a stable life. His decision to save Murphy Motors is partly for Jaxon's future. He also teaches Jaxon about family legacy, as seen when Jaxon wants to carve his name in the distillery cask. This shows that despite his flaws, Brendan values family and tradition.

For more on the novel's resolution, see the ending explained page, or explore common questions and answers.