The Stone Angel
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence is a heart-warming story of aninety year old woman who is nearing death and who has very little to lookback on with pride. Her life had been ruled by her concern of outwardappearances and manners. Although she often felt love and happiness, sherefused to show it fearing it may be viewed by others as a weakness. Hagarinherited this strong pride from her father, Jason Currie, along with otherpoor qualities. Throughout her life, Hagar is desperately trying to escape.First, she tries to escape from her family, mostly her father, but in sodoing she also cuts herself off from her brother, Matt. She also ends upleaving her husband, Brampton. Secondly, Hagar tries to escape from herown poor qualities to which she is captive; attempting to fill theemptiness within her. Finally and futilely, she tries to escape death. Allof these attempts fail dismally. Throughout the narration of the novel manyimages are put forth repetitiously to aid the development of Hagar'scharacter and the main themes. The Stone Angel is a very effective storydue largely to the biblical, water, and flower imagery. The biblical imagery is very strong and can be found numerous times
Hagar did bear a son but Sarah became very jealousof Hagar and had her thrown out into the wilderness. Hagar's life was lived artificially, with verylittle naturalness or spontaneity, thus she stifled her enjoyment of a freelife for the sake of appearances. The flower imagery aids the story by showing the two opposing ways tolive your life. Hagarslowly begins to see John's true character. But I can't help it - it's my nature. Margaret Laurence is brilliantin her use of imagery to further propel the strength of her story. Hagar Shipley wished her sonwas like Jacob, a faithful son in the Old Testament; however, she soonrealized that he was not like Jacob. The Hagar in the Old Testament bore a wild son, Ishmael, but she alsocreated a faithful son, Jacob (descendent of Isaac). This glass of water was an attempt at rejuvenatingherself for life after death. Hagar realizes thisand sees herself as a bondwoman (this is also how the biblical Hagar isdescribed); therefore, she feels trapped like a prisoner. The name of the main character, Hagar, is also thename of a hand maid in a biblical story.
Common topics in this essay:
Hagar Hagar's,
Similarly Hagar,
Margaret Laurence's,
Manawaka Hagar,
Stone Angel,
Margaret Laurence,
Valley Hagar,
Laurence's Hagar,
Secondly Hagar,
Abraham Laurence's,
stone angel,
lived life,
tries escape,
biblical hagar,
hagar shipley,
hagar returned,
cultivated flowers,
death hagar,
glass water,
flower imagery,
hagar lived life,
development hagar's character,
death flower imagery,
|
Acceptance Essays
