The Sibling Relationship in the Novel, Monkey Beach

Monkey Beach is a novel that is largely embedded within the relationship that exists between a brother and sister. It is this sibling relationship that controls the novel and which also shows the readers the changes within it that occur. It provides a brother-sister relationship that changes drastically within the short lives of Lisa and Jimmy and although sister and brother are as different as 'night and day,' these differences are meaningless when balanced against the love and respect they hold for one another. Monkey Beach provides the readers with three different stages within Lisa and Jimmy's relationship, that of children, teenagers, and approaching adulthood. Furthermore, it is these three stages within their relationship, which not only control it, but also contribute to the changes that occur within a loving relationship between sister and brother, and the love, hurt and respect that accompany it.

As children, Lisa and Jimmy had a typical sibling relationship. Jimmy, as the younger brother, followed his older sister, Lisa, all over the place. He wanted to go everywhere that Lisa went and do everything she did. Obviously, Lisa, as the older sibling, wanted nothing to do with Jimmy "He's your brother. He wants to be with you. ' He's a poop-head.'" (45) Lisa wanted her own space and her own friends, as most older sisters do, and didn't want her annoying younger brother following her around pestering her:

He wants to do everything you do. He wants to go where you go. You think he'll want that forever? He's going to go his way and you'll go yours, and this is what you'll miss. 'Won't.' She kissed the top of my head. 'Will." (46)

As kids though, Lisa was forced to take her brother with her and play with him, but, because Jimmy completely idolized his older sister, he loved being with her. Lisa, however, hated it. She hated how her younger brother pitied her for not being able to do something that he could do easily:

I was going to learn to bob if it killed me. It didn't help that Jimmy copied me effortlessly. As I scrambled for the surface, he would stare up at me from underwater. If he'd been smug, I could have coped with it. I would have given him a good whack. But he gave me these soft, pitying looks that people give only when you are being truly pathetic. (48)

Thus, Lisa and Jimmy had a regular sibling relationship, a younger brother who idolizes his older sister, and an older sister who tries to ignore her younger brother. However, as with most siblings, there is often rivalry involved in the childhood relationship. It was no different with Lisa and Jimmy. As a child, Jimmy discovered he excelled at swimming and anything active with the water. Lisa hated the fact that her younger brother was

much better than her concerning so many different activities:

Damned if Jimmy was going to lord it over me for the rest of eternity. It was embarrassing enough that he could swim, dive and snorkel while I was still dog-paddling in the shallow end. I picked up my bike and got back on it. I pushed off and flew down the hill. (49)

Therefore, it was Lisa and Jimmy's childhood relationship, the idolization concerning Jimmy and the jealousy concerning Lisa, that drove them to fight and compete as siblings often do. It is a common path between siblings for the younger one to idolize and the older one to resent, therefore Lisa and Jimmy can be portrayed as having a relationship typical of any sister and brother.

The second stage within Lisa and Jimmy's relationship while growing up was that of teenagers. As Lisa and Jimmy grew up and changed, so did their relationship. It is only normal that when a person changes, their relationships with other people change with them. Accordingly, as Lisa and Jimmy became teenagers and entered high school they each began to lead lives separate from the other. Jimmy was obsessed with his swimming, and therefore his teammates became his close friends. Lisa, on the other hand struggled with school, with friends, and basically with just finding a place to fit into:

The first report cards came in. My grades hovered dangerously at a C-. Most of the comments read, "Doesn't participate in class. Not working to full potential. Not concentrating, please set up an appointment to discuss study habits, etc." Frank began to hit me with snowballs at recess. Jimmy, on the other hand, made the honour roll every time. He'd even made it into the Northern Sentinel, holding up a swim medal with one hand, the other arm over a teammate's shoulder. (166)

Lisa's unhappiness pushed her away from people. She struggled throughout the majority of her high school years. She didn't fit in with her cousin Erika and her friends. They were too obsessed with hair, makeup and boys "Anger flashed through me - they seemed so young and stupid. I must have been making a face because Erica turned to me and asked why I was looking so crabby." (169) Her other cousin, Tab, moved away with her mother, and Jimmy had already established his own group of friends "In his teammates, he had a ready-made circle of friends who had nothing to do with me. Most teachers were surprised we were siblings." (166) Perhaps this is why Lisa was so unhappy at school. She had distanced herself from most of her family and ultimately was making herself miserable. Jimmy didn't understand Lisa's solitude and blamed her for her own unhappiness. He was embarrassed by Lisa and the way she acted, how she had no friends, and the ways in which she entertained herself. At the same time he worried about her and wanted her to be happy:

That Friday at the breakfast table, Jimmy took his Walkman off long enough to say, "My friends are coming over this weekend." "Whoop-dee-doodle." "So don't be a freak." I glared at him. "Like you're not one." "Lisa-" He stopped, sighed and put his earphones back on. (168)

Ironically enough, Lisa eventually claimed a place in Frank's group of friends and with that came protection and perhaps relief for a young girl who couldn't seem to stay out of trouble "The day after the snowball fight in the grave yard, I was a part of Frank's gang and, as such, untouchable." (179) Jimmy, however, disliked Lisa hanging out with Frank and his group and worried about her, and what she could possibly be getting herself involved in "Jimmy was in awe of Frank and his buddies, but the awe didn't transfer to me." (181)

Although Lisa and Jimmy both led completely separate lives during their years as teenagers and the years they spent at high school, they still loved each other. Even when they didn't spend much time together and didn't act as if they loved or even liked each other, that was not the case. They had a relatively close relationship for a sister and brother in their teenage years. Furthermore, Lisa worried about Jimmy and when she believed he might be in trouble, she was always there for him, watching him and waiting:

I spent the morning in a state of anxiety. Something bad was going to happen to Jimmy. If I stayed with him, I might be able to stop it. I checked his breakfast cereal for anything he might choke on. I followed him up to his room, behind him, in case he slipped on the steps. I waited outside his room, ear pressed against the door, trying to hear if he was crying out for help. (223)

While Lisa and Jimmy had their issues as sister and brother growing up in high school together, they both changed drastically throughout those years. However, as separate as their lives were during that time, they knew they were still sister and brother and loved each other immensely.

The last stage within Lisa and Jimmy's short lives together was approaching adulthood. This was the stage in which both sister and brother matured dramatically and realized how extensive their sibling bond was. However, sister and brother lost touch for some time and had no idea what each was doing with their lives. Lisa left home to deal with her own problems and to battle her own demons "Don't look at me like that. You and your fucking problems. Get your act together and go home." (301) Jimmy stayed at home to finish off high school. Lisa eventually made her way home and surprisingly she realized she had indeed been missed by her brother "Jimmy surprised me with a peck on the cheek as he left." (323) Even separated Jimmy's love for Lisa didn't diminish, and perhaps Lisa returned right when Jimmy needed her. After quitting swimming, he obviously needed someone, and having his older sister return was one way "I didn't know how to bring up the subject gracefully. "How's Jimmy? He said he quit swimming." (324) Lisa knew how much swimming had meant to Jimmy and Jimmy knew how much Pooch had meant to Lisa "No. I drove up with Frank. For the funeral," (322), so perhaps they were reunited as a way to help each other deal with the hurt they were both experiencing.

Lisa and Jimmy continued to help each other through a majority of their problems. As older and more mature people, they were able to rationalize with each other and realize that helping the people you love is what is expected and done. Lisa decided to return to high school and graduate, however, as expected, she had problems with some of the subjects. Jimmy, though, wasn't willing to let her give up and helped her through it all:

I skipped two classes before Jimmy found out and asked me what I was doing. I explained that I wasn't interested in school any more; he pulled out my books and perused my homework. "Are you going to give up?" I glowered at him. "No." "Good," he said. "Let's get to it." He would break down problems until they were little pieces all over the page. He'd explain each piece, and when I grasped it, we'd move on until the problem was solved. (327)

It's a helpless feeling when someone you love is hurting and there is nothing you can do to take the hurt away, as was the case with Lisa and Jimmy. Lisa didn't know how to help Jimmy after Karaoke left. He was hurting and heart-broken, and she had never seen him so devastated. However, Lisa decided not to let her brother cope alone even after her mom warned her. She knew that Jimmy needed her help and she was going to give it to him:

He stormed out of the kitchen and I heard his bedroom door slam. I never thought I'd see Jimmy look that angry. I sat at the table and pushed my Cheerios around. I had no idea what I was suppose to do. I went and knocked on his door anyway. (339)

Furthermore, Lisa and Jimmy had a strong bond once they grew up to the stage of approaching adulthood. They were each other's bond to life and happiness and they knew that. Each was willing to do anything to keep the other happy. They began sharing secrets with each other concerning their life dreams and thoughts, things they didn't share with anyone else, but felt they could share with a sibling:

I was kind of relieved when it happened. It was like an out. I kept thinking, what if I fuck this up? I used to have nightmares where I was halfway through the pool and everyone was passing me and I kept getting slower and slower. (349)

As older, more mature adults Lisa and Jimmy both began to realize how precious life is and especially how precious a sister or brother can be. It was during this stage in their lives that they helped each other the most often. They continued to be there for each other through all the stages of their lives together, but this stage was the most important. They were both considered adults, and they were growing up and realizing what life really is all about and how difficult it can be to grow up and become an independent adult. They were realizing how much easier it would be if they always had each other to turn to when things got rough, and so they continued to support and watch over one another "I remember looking at Jimmy from under the water. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me up." (357) They were each afraid of losing the other and what it would entail should this ever happen, and so it almost seemed that they took turns guarding each other. This wasn't done deliberately, but to such a degree that it was obvious they were worried that one day something would happen:

Jimmy didn't want me to be alone. If he couldn't get Mom and Dad to watch me, he baby-sat me, dragging me to some bad summer movies, giving me help with my finals or driving me everywhere, talking to fill the long silences. (357)

Lisa and Jimmy, therefore, had an immensely strong bond. They supported and relied upon each other. It was during this stage of approaching adulthood that they endured the most trials and tribulations. Somehow they always survived with the help and support they discovered from each other, and with the knowledge that each of them was always looking out for the other.

Therefore, although Lisa and Jimmy had an evolving relationship throughout the years they spent together, it was also a relationship based on a huge foundation of love and support. No matter how much they or their relationship changed, they continued to love, support, and rely on one another. Therefore it was a sibling relationship based on such a strong love they believed that whatever should occur, during or after their lives, they would always have each other.