Magic Realism in Monkey Beach Monkey Beach by Eden Robinson illustrates the difficulties of growing up as a native woman in the modern world. This is most notable in the main character LisaMarie Hill who possesses supernatural powers. As she journeys towards a location she believes her lost-at-sea brother is, she recalls the events in her life leading her to the present. During these flashbacks, readers learn how she discovers more about her shamanistic abilities and how to manage them in the modern world. Furthermore, LisaMarie also recalls her past encounters with boys as she grew up. In LisaMarie’s past timeline, her relationship with her supernatural abilities parallels her interactions with boys as she matures, as she transitions …show more content…
She confides to her grandmother about her powers, and in return receives knowledge and support from her. At the same time, she proves that she matures by becoming friends with a group of boys. An example of a sign of her increasing maturity is when she becomes conscious of her childhood ending when she thinks about a well-known children's book: “The Winnie the Pooh stories end with Christopher Robin saying he’s too old to play with Pooh Bear. Little Jackie Piper leaves Puff the magic Dragon. Childhood ends and you grow up and all your imaginary friends disappear.”(Robinson 132) This proves that LisaMarie has matured and understands that there is something special and greater than just this seeing a little red-headed man. By her being conscious of the fact that when you grow up, “imaginary friends disappear”, she shows that her understanding. Furthermore, LisaMarie shows that she becomes cognizant of the benefits of her ability, when she utilizes it to predict impending misfortune for her brother, in turn, protecting him. She receives a prediction, through her supernatural gift and uses her male friends to protect Jimmy from the unknown vector of harm. “I spent the morning in a state of anxiety. Something bad was gonna happen to Jimmy” (Robinson 223)… “After a lengthy silence, Frank said, ‘Well, he’s got three more bodyguards now.’”(Robinson 225) This shows a major …show more content…
“I remember that I could have saved her. If I had listened to my gift instead of ignoring it, I could have saved her.”(Robinson 294). LisaMarie recognizes two important things, firstly, that her talent is a gift. This shows the fact that she understands that she is lucky to have the ability she does. Secondly, she understands that not reacting when the spirits warn her of impending doom is costly for her. She learns that she must idle no more when the Native American spirits communicate with her. This death also symbolizes the death of an important part of LisaMarie’s support and culture, contributing to the reason she ends up wasting all of the money left to her by her grandmother. The whole ordeal causes her to gain more experience in the harsh realities of the world. On the other hand, LisaMarie’s experience with men is equally horrific. Her relationship with Cheese drastically changes when he offers her a beer at a party, contained within the bottle is a drug which incapacitates her. Providing Cheese the opportunity to rape her: “The long blank spots start then […] the last piece is pain between my legs, and a body on top of me,”(Robinson 258). Similar to her brutal