The theme of Survival in The Stone Angel
"Do you ever get used to life?" Most of us have asked ourselves this question numerous times and each time received a different answer because just when everything seems to be straightened out, life introduces new struggles for us to survive. Similarly, in the novel, The Stone Angel, Hagar, the main character of the novel, is forced to ask herself this question many times, because new disappointments seem to arise all the time. Hagar's constant struggles in attempt to survive physically, emotionally and spiritually develop the theme of survival in The Stone Angel.Throughout her life, Hagar has to struggle with harsh reality of her existence. As a child, she often receives cruel treatment from her brothers and her father, in the form of beatings. Hagar is also regarded a possession by her father: "It was worth every penny for the two years, you're a credit to me."(pg43) By marrying Bram, Hagar thinks she will be able to gain independence, yet instead, Bram leads Hagar to experience even more hurt and unhappiness, because he is unable to love her as much as he loved Clara- his first wife, and ruins her reputation. As her life with Bram progresses, we see Hagar waiting for a change that would bring her joy, yet only disappointments
Besides physical struggle against her life and people Hagar also has to suffer emotionally. Since Hagar's father always read homilies and prayers and beat his children at the same time, Hagar is unable to distinguish between good and evil and sees God as unmerciful and ignorant: "but I prayed like sixty when trouble came, as every person does, whether they'll admit it or not, just in case. Yet, even under these circumstances, Hagar does survive and therefore proves to the reader there's almost nothing that a person cannot endure in this world. This exposure to cruelty and ignorance from her father and brother shape Hagar's personality to be cold and artificial, which in its turn causes her to make mistakes such as denial of Marvin, preventing John from marrying Arlene and not expressing her true feelings. Another event that teaches Hagar to be harsh happens when she marries Bram and her father and Matt desert her. Dead by your own hands or by mine?"(pg292) Yet, on her deathbed, Hagar was finally able to tell Marvin he was a better son than John and forgive him. Jason Currie's inability to accept Bram as Hagar's husband also causes him not to accept Marvin as his grandson and l!eads Hagar to feeling like Marvin isn't her child either. Hagar is also exposed to cruelty outside her household- " We never called her Lottie "No-Name" though- only the boys did that"(pg11). Although many people attribute her emotional suffering to her own wrong choices, I believe that her negative actions can be justified. This leads Hagar's emotional suffering to cease and she even says: "Listening I feel like it is more than I could now reasonably have expected of life, for he has spoken with such anger and tenderness. "Considering all the physical and emotional struggles Hagar is forced to withstand, surviving spiritually is very difficult for her. ", so Hagar can never accept her mother's meekness and is forced to detest her.
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