Moon Tiger: Sibling Rivalry

Sibling rivalry is common in a family household, where the competition can get very dangerous. In Penelope Lively book “Moon Tiger”, Claudia and Gordon Hampton are searching for ammonites in “shelving plateau of the cliff”. The brother and sister rivalry over the ammonites becomes very intense. Lively uses literary devices such as imagery, dialogue, and narration to reveal the complex relationship between the siblings and their mother. The imagery captures the environment scenery like the cliff, where the sibling are looking for ammonites. The dialogue between the characters reveal the interconnection they have with each other. Dialogue allow the readers to understand an individual character’s viewpoint. Narration shows the truth of what occurs, and allows the reader to see the whole picture. Lively encapture competition between siblings and the aftermath of the end of the competition.
In the search for ammonites Claudia is envious of Gordon possibly finding ammonites, and Claudia is consume with “suspicion and rivalry”. In the effort, Claudia attempts to pass Gordon by going higher than him on the cliff. The diction Lively uses to encompass the

environmental factor of “dry stony soil that cascades away downwards under her feet”. Lively emphasize that the soil is “dry” and “stony” which foreshadow the reason of Claudia fall. Passing Gordon she falls because a piece of cliff was not as solid as she thought. Her dramatic fall leads to confusion of how she fell, but the imagery allows the readers to depict a mental picture.
The interaction between Claudia and Gordon is hostile, which is shown through their dialogue.

Their competition clogs their judgement. Claudia reveals in her dialogue she is determine to retrieve move ammonites than Gordon. Gordon depict himself as a self-center person. He says “Anyway you can’t come here. I said this is my bit, you find your own”. Their attitude changes after Claudia’s fall and their mother enters into the scene. Claudia is now determine to explain to her mother that Gordon is to blame for her fall. Gordon tell his mother with sincerely that he was not at fault for Claudia’s fall. The mother, Edith Hampton, is the peacemaker “Don’t argue.” she says trying to be the voice of reason as the parent. Dialogue is a key part to conveying the story, and Lively uses dialogue to show each character’s

viewpoint.
In all of the chaos, the use of narration gives the readers a clear picture of what is happening. Lively utilizes narration to show that each character has their version of what happen to cause Claudia to fall, but the readers truly know what happen. The narration shows the readers the conflict in the family, cause by not knowing the whole picture. Since Claudia is unaware that the cliff was not solid enough, she places the blame of Gordon. Gordon knows that he did not push his sister, but is unaware that the cliff was not solid. Lively set up the story in an order, so the readers will first read the truth of the fall, Claudia’s version, then Gordon’s version.
Overall, “Moon Tiger” captures the complex relationship in a family. Claudia’s determination and jealousy for ammonites cause her to fall, and places the blame on Gordon. As she insist to her mother that it is her brother’s fault, and ammonites are her’s. Gordon focus on finding ammonites and knows that Claudia’s fall is not his fault. The mother’s position is making sure her children are safe, and Claudia receives the proper treatment. Lively uses imagery to set the scene, so the readers can visualize the cliff. The dialogue enables readers to understand each character side of the story. While, the narration reveals the truth behind Claudia’s fall. Lively expresses the complex relationship in family and that everything is not what is seems.