SOMETIMES WE wonder why sisters behave badly toward one another, and then quickly remember that the reason they do so is because they simply haven’t read enough literature.
Haven’t they read Austen (portrayed by her sister at left)? Have they utterly forgotten their Bronte? When sisters squabble, we send them into the stacks. Forget therapy, and adopt the therapeutic motto: What would EB do? EB? Elizabeth Bennett, of course, that cool head of Pride and Prejudice, sister to two wacky and one hopelessly beautiful sister, daughter to a positively unforgivable mother, and a loving but somewhat hapless father, manages to find the kind of steadfast love we would all like to have.
Sister trouble is the stuff of literature going back to when man first scratched on stone. Consider Sophocles’ 400s BCE volume, Antigone. Don’t remember her? Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are daughters of Opedipus, need we say more?
Sophocles also brought us Electra (as in one of the Pleiades) and her sister, Chrysothemis, whose job it is for the whole play to avenge their father’s death. After the Oedipal Complex, the Electra Complex is a close second in psychiatric diagnoses, though it would take nearly 2000 years before Freud unraveled what this meant for all of us sisters and one good couch.
A little later, the Bible is awash in sisters from Michal and Merab, Mary and Martha, Leah and Rachel who, like many other Biblical women, are used one against the other to teach us to determine good from evil. The middle pair formed the subject of what is considered Vermeer’s earliest painting, above.
And there were the the Thousand and One Nights (800-900 AD), also known as the Arabian Nights, whose narrator, the great Persian Queen Scheherazade, connived with her sister, Dinazade, against that nasty king Shahryar, whose habit it was to deflower a girl and then slaughter her the next morning.
The king, who had previously been betrayed by his wife, had developed a real passion for retribution and thus began his lustful rampage. Hearing of this, Scheherazade volunteered to spend the night with him, horrifying her father and pulling her good sister into the plot.
Once in the king’s chambers, Scheherazade asked to bid goodbye to her devoted sister, who, in turn, had come prepared to request that her sister tell one tale. That story she wove was so enthralling that the king requested another and another until three sons and one coronation later, Queen Scheherazade was safe for life, as were countless untold virgins who escaped the king’s prior wrath.
How did she do it? She had read up on myth, story, legends, over the years reading thousands of books, including those on philosophy, art, the sciences. In all, Scheherazade was one well-read sister.
Along the way to now, and often reprised on film, Sisterlit ranges from the sublime Austens and Brontes of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, to the ridiculously simple rendering of sisters as color-coded by the early 19th century Brothers Grimm. They felt it necessary to teach the lessons of good and evil as illustrated by Snow White (the stay-at-home) and Rose Red (the run-around).
From there, it seems the flood gates of Sisterlit literally opened, letting in the women (Little and otherwise) we so love to read about. You’ll find some of our favorites here.–Marion Roach Smith
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don’t forget about mary, EB’s middle sister – not beautiful, not wacky – the one who was just plain weird!
Welcome, Molly, and thanks for the word in favor of middle sisters, weird or otherwise. See you soon again.
On the poetry front, how about Christina Rossetti’s “Goblin Market,” in which the dutiful, law-abiding sister braves all manner of mysterious dangers to save the sensual, reckless one from the evil goblins who have lured her from the straight and narrow? Moral of the story: the only love a woman can trust is her sister’s.
Hi, Rona. It’s lovely to have you here as well as elsewhere on our blogs. I am delighted that you remind us about Rossetti’s Goblin Market. Sister to one complicated brother, it’s no wonder Christina writes that the only love a woman can trust is that of her sister. Whew. Please see my new post in my blog, She Said, She Said, about you, your More magazine piece with your sister, and your fabulous blog. I was writing that when Margaret alerted me to your post here. Serendipity. We are so glad to read your thoughtful comments. I’m going to post soon (in time for holiday shopping) about sister fiction I’ve recently read. What other sisterlit is on your suggested reading list?
p.s. My records indicate that Christina Rossetti’s birthday (in 1830) is December 5. Let’s start a Sisterlit read of Goblin Market to celebrate!
I’ve got a sisterlit pick coming up, too. I think reading great fiction about sisters is the ultimate fantasy-fulfillment for onlies like me…
New sisterly fiction? Check out The Sister by first-time novelist Poppy Adams. But best not to give it to your sister: this is one creepy, skin-crawling tale of dysfunctional sisterhood. Love the idea of the Goblin Market read (but have missed the date). It’s a wonderfully puzzling poem and I’d be curious to know what other readers have to say.
Just realized I forgot to mention the uber-novel when it comes to modern fiction about sisters: Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. If you ever miss the texture and character-driven plot of 19th-century novels, this is for you. But it’s not for skimmers. Read and savour every word, or you won’t know how it ends. One of my favorite novels and a great potential pick for a sisterlit read-in.
Hi again, Rona. Ooooh. A fan of a Sisterlit read-in. First Goblin Market, then Transit of Venus and then your fabulous book, “My Mother’s Daughter,” a fine memoir, and the perfect discussion book. Anyone else in?
For a hilarious look back at sisterhood in the ’60′s, don’t pass up the compact and delightful “When Sisterhood Was In Flower” by Florence King. It’s the story of 2 women from opposite points of the political spectrum who come to love each other none the less. If in need of a revivifying spritz of a world with a sense of humor, before media polarization (BMP) encouraged dissing sibs with different points of view, read this book. If you can’t find a copy, I’ll be a good sister and loan you mine.
Hi, Nancy J: I don’t know this book, though I soon will, since I’ve ordered it at alibris.com. How kind–how sisterly–of you both to recommend it, as well as to offer it as a loan. What else have got on your nightside table?
One of my favorite classic’s is Betty Smith’s, “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn.” It’s a tale of sisters and sister-friends and not-so-nice sister-haters back in 1930′s Brooklyn. At the end of the book, there was a deep sadness in knowing the story was over. It remains one of my all-time favorites because I felt I knew every character! Betty Smith truly produced a masterpiece with this one!
I also agree that reading makes us better sisters…and better people. As a curious grade schooler and shy high schooler, I lost myself in books and spent every lunch period in the library, where I adopted my love for reading, books, periodicals, etc.
I would rather spend all my waking hours in Barnes and Noble than anywhere else and my friends have even suggested that I work in a bookstore since I love people and love books (I was politely told that on second thought, a library may not be suitable because I wouldn’t be able to talk…not very subliminal, if you ask me!)
Woops…sorry, Marion for not checking in…The large loaf on my bedside table since, let’s say Christmas, is “Infinite Jest” by David Foster Wallace. An absolutely amazing oeuvre, the kind of writing that after a long day is deciphered a page a night. Which is great because it prolongs the read and the association with a brilliant mind. I’ve become an expert at cajoling the librarians into letting me extend. No one else in this neck of the woods seems to want it besides me, which is just fine. It keeps me cozy. Definitely a brother book, and any sister who’s got one. Love you, Margaret and The Sister Project madly. xo nancy j.
I am a sister but don’t have one. I have been lurking on Margaret’s A Way to Garden blog for a while. I first saw her on Martha’s program years ago. I love this site and hope to contribute regarding books. Thanks for beginning and continuing this lovely project.
Welcome, Yvonne, and thank you for your nice compliments. You are welcome to lurk in my garden or here anytime. :) See you soon again, and definitely share any titles you have; always happy to have more suggestions.