"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 seem to await Hagar. Her father and Matt desert her, Bram doesn't understand her, her son Marvin goes to war, even John- her favourite son to who she devoted the biggest part of her life turns out to be a deceitful, unmannered alcoholic. New disappointments don't stop arising even when Hagar is a ninety –year o!
             ld woman, because now she has to struggle against her illness, and imminence of the nursing home. This causes her to escape to the Shadow Point, where once again instead of peace and happiness, she has to struggle to survive. Yet, even under these circumstances, Hagar does survive and therefore proves to the reader there's almost nothing that a pe...