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Essay on the stone angel by margaret laurence
Symbolism in stone angel
Symbolism in stone angel
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The Stone Angel
Event by event, memory by memory the scales fall from Hagar's eyes until she sees clearly her own nature. No longer blaming others, she dies courageously by being fully responsible for her own life. What are the stages of Hager's enlightenment.
The novel The Stone Angel portrays an image of a ninety-year-old woman, Hagar Currie, who confronts her past of personal failures in an attempt for rejuvenation before death. Hagar has lead a life dominated by authority and memories of whom she is expected to be. As she goes through life she continually tries to escape from her fears and gain acceptance. Through events and journeys, Hagar is able to release herself from the restrictions that have prevented her from leading a satisfactory life. Thus, to reconcile with herself and her fate, Hagar must flee from three domestic confinements: her father, her husband and her eldest son.
As a child, Hagar was hampered by the pride, social standards and disciplines of her father, Jason Currie. Hagar's life had been dominated by the authority of her father and that is what drove her away from him. Jason Currie was a very proud, self-made man who pushed his values on his children. It is easily seen that many of the father's traits belong, also, to his daughter, such as his pride and stubbornness. Hagar is often closely compared to the stone angel that stands over her mother's grave, doubly blind. It is for this reason that Hagar lived a joyless life for which she was unable to express herself.
Jason Currie was excessively caught up in his own dynasty, his image, and was determined to have his children uphold this image. He wanted his children, especially Hagar, to display his pride and behave at the level of his standards. Hager's emotional reactions and superficial outlook were determined by the views expressed by her father's examples and reinforced by punishment. With a father who will tolerate no weakness of any kind, Hagar learned how not to express any emotions. Such as when Hagar says "Oh, look! The funniest wee things, scampering" (Pg.9) while looking at the sultanas, her father's commodities. This was an insult to her father's reputation and pride and makes it known through punishment. However, no matter how much he strikes her hands she refuses to cry. It is at this point that the reader sees how much like her father she really is.
She sees her father old and suffering, his wife sent him out to get money through begging; and he rants on about how his daughters left him to basically rot and how they have not honored him nor do they show gratitude towards him for all that he has done for them (Chapter 21). She gives into her feelings of shame at leaving him to become the withered old man that he is and she takes him in believing that she must take care of him because no one else would; because it is his spirit and willpower burning inside of her. But soon she understands her mistake in letting her father back into he life. "[She] suddenly realized that [she] had come back to where [she] had started twenty years ago when [she] began [her] fight for freedom. But in [her] rebellious youth, [she] thought [she] could escape by running away. And now [she] realized that the shadow of the burden was always following [her], and [there she] stood face to face with it again (Chapter 21)." Though the many years apart had changed her, made her better, her father was still the same man. He still had the same thoughts and ways and that was not going to change even on his death bed; she had let herself back into contact with the tyrant that had ruled over her as a child, her life had made a complete
“So don't let your mind dwell on just one thought, that what you say is right and nothing else.” (lines 799-800) These were just some of the many words from Haemon to his father (Creon) describing the action that he isn't taking. Haemon's contrasting ideas led to the development of Creon as a tragic hero while also advancing the plot and developing the theme.
Reef shows great compassion and love towards the characters that have had a large impact on his life. His grandmother was an important figure that motivated Reef to reach his fullest potential even through times of darkening rejection. Reef and his grandmother collect stones together and use them to symbolise things in their life. “It was his grandmother who had somehow made the hardness bearable, and it was she who had placed the first stone in his hand” (Aker, 32).
Haemon does this by confronting Creon about his leadership skills, many biases by using the people of Thebes, or gods to educate Creon of his tragic flaws and hubris. Why would the author use Haemon to establish Creon as a tragic hero and bring to light his tragic flaws and hubris? Like F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “Show me a hero, and I'll write you a tragedy.” Authors who need a tragic hero in their piece of literature use characters like Haemon to examine the main character's many tragic flaws and hubris that contribute to his
The feeling of having been betrayed by a trusted or important figure in your life can result in emotional damage, which can eventually lead to personal destruction. “Stone Angel” by Margaret Lawrence and “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller, are two works of literature that put that very statement into context. Although, the theme of betrayal is evident in both pieces, the protagonists of the different plots – Hagar Shipley and Willy Loman – experience betrayal in two very different fashions. Hagar Shipley is destroyed by her loss of independence and Willy Loman is forced into taking drastic and unnecessary actions. Acts of betrayal are scattered throughout the lives of the two protagonists. Betrayal put them off the path of life on which they originally began, and drops them on a path of destruction, which in time leads to their premature end.
As mentioned before, it is dramatic irony that both Hagar and Lear switch character traits and face opposite endings. Although the two novels shared both similar and different perspectives, it is proven that there is more distinction between the characters differences. They both face blindness, success in different forms and transformations; however they share different ways of it occurring, and a dissimilar end to each of their quests. Regardless, in order to truly grow and change as an individual, it is not about gaining insight into ones flaws, but rather becoming selfless being.
Hagar is a maidservant, and therefore is only supposed to be treated like such. This is the impression I received from the book, Abraham and All the Families of the Earth by Gerald Janzen. Janzen opens the commentary expressing, “Male and female are called to help one another. Abraham and Sarai are peer
Before finding out about her biological parents, Asha acts very immaturely and inconsiderately. The first example portraying Asha's unsophisticated behaviour takes place while Asha has a disagreement with her parents because of her poor grades. After her mother offers to helps, she replies, “'I don't need a tutor, and I definitely don't want your help,' Asha says choosing her words to sting her mother'” (Gowda, 150). Here, Asha is deliberately trying to hurt her mother's feelings and is acting very inconsiderately. Also, the fact that she is yelling at her mother, even though her mother is only offering to help, showcases her immaturity.
Bullets whizzed by and, the anguished cries wounded men echoed across the battlefield, but Clara Barton pushed through the sea of bodies; determined to get to the wounded. Even though many might know her from her nickname “Angel of the Battlefield” or as the founder of the American Red Cross, but she started as just a very stubborn, patriotic, young woman who was determined to help. Even in a time of despair. She brought hope to soldiers and their families, both on and off the battlefield.
In the Heian world of the Tale of Genji, for men as well as women, beauty and elegance are important traits to have, as seen in the great amount of emphasis placed on Genji’s good looks and grace. As he is the model of a perfect man, examining Genji alone is enough to understand the standard of what a Heian male should be. At times, Genji can be persistent and aggressive to the point of being a nuisance who clearly is not used to being denied anything—this is most likely the result of his being so favored by everyone around him while growing up, especially his father. He is made a commoner, but still ranks higher than most people (pg. 37), and is thrown an elaborate coming-of-age ceremony. If not for the interference of the mother of the Heir Apparent, he would have been handed the title of successor as well. Nonetheless, despite his short-comings, Genji is quickly forgiven due to his charm and gentleness. An example of this is when h...
Haemon had been promised Antigone’s hand in marriage and was obviously frantic by his father’s ...
...f Hulga’s attitude towards life and other people. She may be smart, but she has low self-esteem and to make her feel better about herself she treats everyone around her with distain. By acting like this she feels like she has control over her life.
...ge with Sethe. She not only searches for her face, but wants to be that face. In taking ownership of herself, Sethe unshackles herself from the ghosts of her past. Beloved has helped Sethe to free herself, and now can finally depart. Beloved takes Sethe's complex past and from it lifts one of life's simple truths: only you can define yourself. Sethe is finally free and at peace.
sin and is able to continue to model after God. John is one of the reasons I continue to be bold and stand firm in my faith. If God is so willing to test his faith, then this is a person I’d like to resemble. The mirror image of my life is what defines my legacy and the person I am today. The question is who am I and who will I become?
Broken Angel by Francine Pascal Broken Angel by Francine Pascal is a story about Angel Desmond who is at the racetrack and has gambled away all of his money. His girlfriend Tia Ramirez and her friend Conner McDermott are looking for him. They find him at the racetrack and Tia gets very angry with Angel when she finds out he has lost all of his money. Angel dreads telling his parents, because he lost his whole savings account which was for college. He graduated form El Carro is supposed to go to Stanford in the spring. His parents are really excited about it.Angel stayed up late that night thinking about what happened. The next morning his mom offers to take him to get a small refrigerator for his dorm room at Stanford. He cannot take the pressure anymore so he tells his parents he does not have any money. Then he tells them what happened and they are very disappointed in him. His father fires him from his job at the garage that his father owns. Tia and Conner meet ant the café and try to think of ways to help Angel. Finally when everything seems hopeless Conner thinks of a good idea. Conner’s mom is in all kinds of charities that give out scholarships at the end of school. Conner said he would ask his mom to put in some good words for Angel. Conner goes to ask his mom to help Angel. He is very nervous because she is usually drunk. She is an alcoholic. He finally gets his nerve up and knocks on her bedroom door. He walks in and she is cleaned up and sober. It was a big shock to Conner. His mom calls a few people for Angel and makes a few dinner dates.Tia goes to Angel’s house to tell him the good news. He comes to the door smiling from ear to ear. He said he has got good news for her. She tells him the news about Conner’s mom trying to get him a scholarship. He tells her tell Conner to just forget it. He is not going to college. He tells Tia he is going to stay with her. She tells him he cannot because he has worked so hard to go to Stanford. He then tells Tia she does not love him because she is pushing him away.