Sibling Relationships

The novel's illustration of dysfunction among the siblings demonstrates how neglect of these relationships can lead to a loss of interpersonal comfort. Given that there is no antagonist in the novel, most of the conflicts within the novel revolve around the four siblings, and their constantly changing relationships with one another. Broadly speaking, the siblings achieved an initial closeness in their childhoods, when they had to bond with one another by necessity following the death of their father, Ellis, and the virtual absence of their mother, Noni. However, many of the positive dynamics that were established between the siblings at this time began to transform into negative dynamics as they grew into young adulthood.

The primary example of this dynamic at play is Renee’s tendency to watch over and monitor her younger siblings. Even though Renee is only a few years older than Caroline...