Brothers and Sisters

National Siblings Day: April 10
National Siblings Day has come and gone this year, but I for one feel it's never too late to reflect upon the many joys -- and teeth-grinding frustrations -- that come about from those most unique of people in our lives: siblings.

Whether you're the older child who feels replaced, the middle child who feels ignored, or the younger child who feels you'll never measure up, having a sibling means having a lifetime of conflicting emotions. (Read more about the theory of how "birth order" can affect our personalities here.) On the one hand, they're your built-in rivals -- and, having grown up together, your siblings probably have a better idea than anyone else of just how to push your buttons. 

But the fact that you've known each other all your lives -- and have played an important part in each other's lives from the beginning -- means that your siblings "get" you in a way no one else ever will. Who else could ever believe just how weird your parents are, how frustrating your relatives can be, and how awkward that one holiday dinner really was?  Having a sibling means having someone who will always understand just how crazy your lives have been -- even if you don't always quite understand each other. But, then again, that can be part of the fun.

So, in honor of April 10th, here are ten sets of fictional brothers and sisters who show us just how frustrating -- and fantastic -- our own, real-life siblings can be:

1. Apollo and Artemis (Diana) 

Lots of the Greek gods were related. But Apollo (the Sun God) and Artemis (the Goddess of the Hunt) were twins!  The kids of Zeus and a minor goddess called Leto, these sibling gods were both quite skilled with a bow and arrow, and often used these weapons to defend those under their care (including their own mother). Despite being twins, Apollo and Artemis definitely had their differences (Apollo was associated with the sun, Artemis with the moon) -- but that didn't stop these siblings from getting along. They hung out together often, usually on hunting excursions.




2. Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa  

Nothing helps you bond with your long-lost sibling like reminiscing over just how screwed up your parents are. Luke and Leia share the ultimate in evil fathers -- Darth Vadar himself -- but that doesn't stop these twins from catching up on lost quality family time once they team back up. Then again, working together to overthrow an evil Empire could probably help any estranged family members find some common ground again.

3-4. Literary Duos:

Elizabeth and Jane Bennet; Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes
If you're a regular reader, you know that we're big fans of Jane Austen and Sherlock Holmes around here. So it should come as no surprise that we're including two of our favorite families: the Bennets and the Holmeses.
In a family of five sisters, eldest Bennet sister Jane finds her best friend in next-oldest Elizabeth. Jane, the "beauty" in the family, is much less critical than her sister of people and their society. Elizabeth, with her quick wit and sharp opinions, is dismissive of many of their acquaintances -- but loves her somewhat naive sister for her good heart. Despite being opposites, the sisters are also steadfast confidants, supporting each other as only siblings can.
Everybody knows Sherlock Holmes. But less well-known (he's unknown, for some time, even by Dr. Watson himself) is Sherlock's older brother, Mycroft. These two siblings are occasional rivals, as each tries to out-deduce the other; but while Mycroft is arguably even more of a genius than Sherlock, he lacks his younger brother's force of will and determination. So, despite his older brother's intellectual superiority, Sherlock's passion for "the game" will ensure that the younger Holmes will always remain the greatest Great Detective. 

5. The Weasleys

The one thing Harry Potter wanted most of all was a family -- so it's easy to see why he'd come to love a family as loud, boisterous, and loving as the Weasley clan. With seven kids in all (that's Ron, Ginny, and twins Fred and George in the picture), the Weasley siblings are the ultimate example of a big family that frustrates, exasperates, and annoys one another to no end -- but who will always be there for each other no matter what. Which, as you know if you've read it, is what makes the last book in the series so heartbreaking ...

6. Bart, Lisa, and Maggie Simpson

Speaking of brothers and sisters who drive each other crazy -- Bart and Lisa may be the poster children for sibs who can't quite seem to live with each other ... but who just might grudgingly admit that they don't want to live without each other, either. Bart and Lisa love each other, but, like all siblings, they have their share of fights -- often while a disgruntled Maggie looks on.

7. Dick, Jane, and Sally

For over fifty years, Dick and Jane (and their baby sister Sally) taught American children how to read. With simplistic, repetitive words to describe their adventures with Mother, Father, Spot, Puff, and Tim, Dick and Jane emphasized memorization to learn reading. That's a practice that has fallen out of favor (the focus is on phonetics now), but the iconic characters have become a part of pop culture.

8. Linus and Lucy

Argh!  Who can't relate to the sibling rivalry of Lucy and Linus van Pelt?  Linus is generally a calm and quiet sort, but with a fussbudget for an older sister, he often finds his nerves put to the test. Lucy, for her part, would probably claim she always means well (like when she hides Linus's blanket from him only because she wants him to learn how to get along without it) -- but, as with all great characters, it's left for the readers to judge.

9. The Blues Brothers

Elwood and Jake Blues began as characters on Saturday Night Live, before proving popular enough to warrant their own musical comedy film in 1980. John Belushi's Jake is out on parole when he teams up with his brother, Dan Aykroyd's Elwood, to save the Catholic orphanage where they grew up from being foreclosed. Reuniting their blues band to come up with the money, the brothers must dodge Neo-Nazis, a country band, and a crazed Carrie Fisher -- all while keeping under the radar of the police. Encountering such legends as Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, and James Brown, you don't have to have seen the film to enjoy the outstanding soundtrack. 

10. Frasier and Niles Crane

If you asked me, I'd probably claim Everybody Loves Raymond or The Big Bang Theory as my favorite sitcom. But I think, when it comes to fictional families, there's no denying that the sibling duo from Frasier is the one I love best. These sibling psychiatrists are a bit ... particular in their styles and habits (which is to say, they'd give Lucy van Pelt a good run in the fussbudget department). Fortunately for those around them, they tend to take out the worst of their nit-picking peculiarities on each other, fighting and competing with each other on every project they take on. Whether trying to open up a gourmet restaurant or co-authoring a book together (a book on the topic of, ahem, sibling rivalry), Frasier and Niles will find a way to turn it into a competition -- with hilarious results.

But, like so many real-life siblings, the rivalry masks the real affection these two brothers have for each other. 

You know. Most of the time, anyway.

-- Post by Ms. B