“Bloodchild” is the story of a family living in a world in which Terrans (a human-like race) are used as breeders for the Tlic, a dominant alien race. Gan and Qui are two Terran brothers at odds with each other, and jealously does play a part in their conflict—but their story does not, in my understanding of the text, mirror that of Cain and Abel.

In the biblical story of the two brothers, God prefers Abel to Cain; Cain kills Abel out of jealousy. While Gan is expected to bear T’Gatoi’s children and does have a particularly close relationship with her, Qui is certainly not jealous of Gan. On the contrary, Qui is glad he is not in Gan’s position. He has witnessed a Tlic birth that ended in the Terran carrier’s death and, as a result, harbors a strong animosity for the Tlic. Qui feels that the Tlic treat Terrans like animals, using them without regard to the suffering they endure in carrying and birthing Tlic young. Gan has a much more complex relationship with the Tlic and a close, generally amicable relationship with T’Gatoi. Qui feels superior to his brother, whom he believes is ignorant of the truth—that the Tlic see Terrans as mere objects to be used for breeding purposes.

As the story develops, Gan does feel some jealously towards Qui, but to the extent jealousy plays a role in the conflict between the two brothers, Gan is jealous of Qui for not being chosen to carry T'Gatoi's children. This does not suggest that “Bloodchild” is an allegory to the story of Cain and Abel.

It should also be noted that Gan’s anger at Qui is not solely a result of jealousy or Qui’s condescending behavior. On a deeper level, the fight between the two brothers arises from Gan’s internal conflict about T’Gatoi and the larger system they are a part of. After watching Lomas give birth, Gan feels uncertain and afraid about what is expected of him as the “chosen one” of his family. This gives rise to anger towards T’Gatoi, whom he has always regarded fondly despite the power she has over him. Very suddenly, after seeing the excruciating pain the Tlic are willing to put Terrans through, he doubts what he previously believed.

His anger towards his brother initially seems strange and excessive given the situation, but it is a direct result of Gan’s inner turmoil. The primary conflict of the story is not the fight between the two brothers, but Gan’s struggle to consolidate his feelings on his place in the world—a struggle that is embodied in his complex relationship with T’Gatoi.