The intriguing book Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson examines the link between the Haisla people of British Columbia, Canada, and magic. In the book, magic is shown as a vital component of the Haisla society and is used for various sociopolitical purposes. In this paper, I will analyze the social role of magic in Monkey Beach and its depiction in the book. In addition, I will investigate what Monkey Beach informs us about the politics of magic. On Monkey Beach, magic is an integral aspect of the Haisla culture and serves several societal purposes. First, magic is used to link the living and the deceased. In Haisla culture, the dead are strong and can influence the living.
Consequently, the living utilizes magic to connect with the dead and seek their counsel. On Monkey Beach, Lisamarie talks with her departed brother Jimmy via magical dreams and visions (Robinson 246). During these meetings, Jimmy guides Lisamarie and helps her comprehend the circumstances behind his death.
The second function of magic is to cure the ill and damaged. The Haisla people of Monkey Beach utilize magic to treat various ailments and injuries. Ma-ma-oo, the grandma of Lisamarie, employs magic to heal her granddaughter’s injured ankle. Ma-ma-oo conducts a traditional Haisla healing ceremony of singing, drumming, and sage burning (Robinson 189). The ceremony is effective, and Lisamarie’s ankle recovers quickly. The Haisla use magic to shield themselves from danger. On Monkey Beach, magic shields the Haisla from physical and spiritual damage. Sal, the mother of Lisamarie, utilizes magic to shield her daughter from a possible sexual predator (Robinson 212). Sal conducts a traditional Haisla protection ceremony consisting of the burning of cedar and the recitation of a prayer. Lisamarie is safe since the ceremony was effective.
In Monkey Beach, magic is shown as a natural and integral component of the Haisla civilization. The characters use magic without reluctance or apprehension and know its power and limits. The story depicts magic as an instrument for healing, communication, and protection and as a positive factor in the Haisla people’s existence. Also, Monkey Beach educates us on the politics of magic. The story portrays magic as a method of resistance against colonialism and cultural homogenization (Campbell 87). The Haisla employ magic to maintain their culture and oppose the efforts of mainstream society to eradicate their customs. Ma-ma-oo, for instance, rejects Western medicine in favor of indigenous Haisla healing practices. Her opposition to Western medical techniques is a cultural assimilation resistance.
The book Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson is replete with topics that may be analyzed via various critical perspectives. One such perspective is Postcolonial/Indigenous studies, which investigates the impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples and their traditions (Howes 116). Lisamarie Hill, a young Indigenous woman attempting to come to terms with her brother Jimmy’s abduction, is the protagonist of Robinson’s book, set in the Haisla settlement of Kitamaat, British Columbia, and follows her tale (Robinson 117). The book examines the intricate interaction between the Haisla community and the colonial forces that have touched it, including residential schools, the fishing industry, and government regulations.
From a postcolonial viewpoint, Monkey Beach examines the effects of colonialism on the Kitamaat indigenous population. The story depicts the tragic consequences of residential schools, which isolated Indigenous children from their families and communities and attempted to obliterate their traditional identities (Andrews 4). Mick, the father of Lisamarie, is a residential school survivor, and his experiences have left him with severe emotional scars that impair his family connections (Robinson, 295). The story also examines the effects of colonialism on the Haisla fishing sector, which government regulations and the entrance of non-Native immigrants have damaged. Since fishing has long been an integral element of the Haisla culture and way of life, this disturbance has significantly impacted their culture and way of life.
In addition to its postcolonial themes, Monkey Beach examines gender and sexuality concerns. Lisamarie, the novel’s strong female heroine, is shown as both fragile and resilient. Throughout the story, her interactions with other women, particularly her mother, aunt, and closest friend, underscore the significance of female solidarity in the face of tragedy (Robinson 317). The book may also be analyzed via the perspective of New Historicism, which examines how literary works are affected by the historical situations in which they were written. Monkey Beach is firmly anchored in the history and culture of the Haisla society, and Robinson extensively uses historical and cultural allusions throughout the text (Campbell 21). These references assist in placing the narrative in a larger cultural and historical perspective and provide insight into the experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
In Monkey Beach, Eden Robinson addresses various issues, such as the conflict between isolation and community, initiation, and the power of words, names, and identity. These ideas play an important part in the story and contribute to the author’s interest in magic theory (Howes 195). One of the novel’s primary themes is the conflict between isolation and community. Lisa, the story’s protagonist, strives to balance her yearning for seclusion with her household responsibilities and commitment to the community. Lisa’s yearning for isolation manifests as lunar thinking, in which she attempts to connect with her inner self and reflect on her previous experiences. Lisa is also linked to her community, which exhibits solar thinking, where she feels a duty towards her family and people (Robinson 334). Robinson emphasizes the significance of balancing isolation and community via Lisa’s problems, arguing that both are vital for personal development and social well-being.
Initiation, a vital part of magic theory, is another major subject in the tale. Initiation is a transforming process that leads to human development and awareness on a spiritual level. Lisa’s initiation at Monkey Beach happens via her supernatural experiences, where she tackles her prior trauma and acquires a better knowledge of herself and her connection to her community (Robinson 95). During Lisa’s initiation, Robinson demonstrates the significance of spiritual development and the function of supernatural encounters in fostering human change (Andrews 7). The significance of words, names, and identity is another major issue in Monkey Beach. Robinson examines how people’s conceptions of themselves and their position in the world are influenced by their names and identities. Lisa’s Haisla identity and her familial and cultural ties.
Another significant problem in Monkey Beach is the value of words, names, and identities. Robinson investigates how people’s names and identities affect their perceptions of who they are and where they stand. Specifically, he looks at how people’s names affect their sense of self-worth (Campbell 4). Lisa’s sense of who she is as an individual and her perception of the world is inextricably linked to her heritage as a Haisla and her connections to her family and community. In addition to this, Robinson places a strong emphasis on the potential of language and story to mold both individual and social identity (Howes 113). Through Lisa’s experiences, Robinson explains that words and storytelling can heal and injure and that it is necessary to form and preserve cultural identity to repeat personal and community history.
Also, the artist’s role as the magician topic is tackled in Monkey Beach. The fact that Robinson is so skilled at the art of storytelling is shown by their ability to provide vivid and evocative depictions of both the supernatural realm and the civilization of the Haisla (Emberley 93). Robinson, in this sense, is an artist-magician because she uses her skill to transport readers to another planet and link them to a different culture. Using storytelling, Robinson highlights the value of the power of art as a tool for cultural preservation and the necessity of acknowledging and appreciating the oral storytelling traditions of Indigenous peoples.
Critiques
Andrews contends that Robinson subverts conventional Gothic themes by combining Indigenous ideas and narrative approaches. She discusses the significance of the novel’s location in Haisla land and its role as a character in the narrative. Moreover, Andrews tackles the concept of liminality, especially via the character Lisamarie, who straddles the realms of the living and the dead (Andrews 19). Ultimately, Andrews considers Monkey Beach a singular and powerful example of Indigenous Gothic writing that confronts colonial tropes and provides a fresh take on the genre.
Howes criticizes Monkey Beach as having an excessive number of mystical themes. He stated that the supernatural components in the book distract from the story’s authenticity and make it more difficult to relate to the characters on a human level (Howes 54). Others, however, have maintained that the supernatural components are essential to comprehending the Indigenous worldview and integral to the novel’s distinctive cultural viewpoint. A further criticism of Monkey Beach is that its nonlinear nature might sometimes make it difficult to follow (Emberley 36). Some readers may need clarification on the novel’s frequent shifts between viewpoints and historical periods. Some have claimed, however, that the nonlinear structure is a deliberate and effective means of conveying the fractured nature of memory and trauma.
Lastly, some critics have said that Monkey Beach depends excessively on Indigenous stereotypes and reinforces damaging misunderstandings about Indigenous people. Campbell, however, has complimented the work for its nuanced and accurate depiction of Indian culture and investigation of the impact of colonialism on Indigenous populations (Campbell 10). Despite criticism from other writers, Monkey Beach is largely regarded as a breakthrough and significant work of Canadian literature, notably for its depiction of Indigenous lives and culture.
In conclusion, the novel Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson investigates several concepts essential to studying magic. These concepts include the struggle between isolation and community, the initiation process, the significance of words, names, and identities, and the artist’s role as a magician. Through her exploration of these topics, Robinson demonstrates how magic theory can provide a framework for comprehending personal and communal transformation, cultural preservation, and the power of storytelling. This is shown by the fact that Robinson cites several examples of how magic theory has been used. Readers may get a more in-depth comprehension of the idea of magic and literature’s function in forming cultural identity and promoting personal growth by studying Monkey Beach.
Work Cited
Andrews, Jennifer. “Native Canadian Gothic Refigured: Reading Eden Robinson’s Monkey Beach.” Essays on Canadian Writing 73 2001: 1.
Campbell, Pamela Kay. Lenses of indigenous feminism: Digging up the roots of Western patriarchy in” Perma Red” and” Monkey Beach.” Diss. The University of Arizona, 2012.
Emberley, Julia. “In/Hospitable ‘Aboriginalities’ in Contemporary Indigenous Women’s Writing.” The Oxford Handbook of Canadian Literature. Oxford University Press, 2016. 209
Howes, David, ed. Empire of the senses: The sensual culture reader. Routledge, 2021.
Robinson, Eden. Monkey beach. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000.
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