In Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel, Hagar Shipley, the main character, refused to compromise which shaped the outcome of her life and impacted the lives of those around her. “Pride was my wilderness and the demon that led me there was fear… [I was] never free, for I carried my chains within me, and they spread out from me and shackled all I touched.” Hagar’s pride and stubbornness were the causes of her failed relationships and lack of love in her life.
Pride destroyed her relationships with her father, brother and husband. It also led to the unfortunate death of her son John. Her stubbornness caused her marriage to dissolve, Marvin to be unhappy, her daughter-in-law’s frustration, and her own death.
Hagar’s overwhelming pride was the …show more content…
Hagar refused: ‘…however much a part of me wanted to sympathise. To play at being her- it was beyond me” (p.25). Hagar was to proud to pretend to be her weak mother even for her dying brother. Matt resented the fact that Hagar refused to do a favour for Dan and therefore Matt and Hagar’s relationship was ruined. Even though Hagar got married to Bram she didn’t really feel any love for him. Her “hoity-toity” (p.06) attitude prevented her from showing emotion and tenderness towards her husband. She never let him know how she felt about him: “… I never let him knew. I never spoke aloud… I prided myself on keeping my pride intact” (p.81). Hagar’s pride also destroyed her relationship with her son John. One night John brought Arlene home to stay but Hagar was to proud to let her stay and refused. They were later killed in a car accident and Hagar then realised that if she had compromised then maybe they would have been alive. She apologised too late: “I didn’t mean it, about not bring her here… You could come here in the evenings. I wouldn’t say a word” (p.247). When Hagar saw Arlene’s dead body the matron told her to, “Cry. Let yourself. It’s the best thing” (p.242). However she was to proud to let anyone see her cry. “I shoved her [matron’s] arms away. I straightened my spine… I wouldn’t cry in front of strangers, whatever it cost me” (p.242). She …show more content…
Almost, it seems, forever. The daughter of a successful Scottish merchant, Hagar chooses to marry the man her father is most likely to disapprove. Her father is hard and unforgiving. He dies without seeing his daughter again and without meeting her sons: his grandsons.
We find her late in life the picture of the crotchety old lady, being cared for by her eldest -- and least loved -- son and his aging wife. As an old woman Hagar is critical and sharp-tongued and unrelenting. She has lived a life that is utterly devoid of joy and warmth and love. In a late scene, a nurse in the hospital assists Hagar from the bathroom.
"Oh, I hate being helped --" My voice is pettish and doesn't resemble at all the fury inside me. "I've always done things for myself." "Haven't you ever given a hand to anyone in your time? It's your turn now. Try to look at it that way. It's your due." She's right. I needn't feel beholden. I can't think of many I've given a hand to, that's the only
Pride destroyed her relationships with her father, brother and husband. It also led to the unfortunate death of her son John. Her stubbornness caused her marriage to dissolve, Marvin to be unhappy, her daughter-in-law’s frustration, and her own death.
Hagar’s overwhelming pride was the …show more content…
Hagar refused: ‘…however much a part of me wanted to sympathise. To play at being her- it was beyond me” (p.25). Hagar was to proud to pretend to be her weak mother even for her dying brother. Matt resented the fact that Hagar refused to do a favour for Dan and therefore Matt and Hagar’s relationship was ruined. Even though Hagar got married to Bram she didn’t really feel any love for him. Her “hoity-toity” (p.06) attitude prevented her from showing emotion and tenderness towards her husband. She never let him know how she felt about him: “… I never let him knew. I never spoke aloud… I prided myself on keeping my pride intact” (p.81). Hagar’s pride also destroyed her relationship with her son John. One night John brought Arlene home to stay but Hagar was to proud to let her stay and refused. They were later killed in a car accident and Hagar then realised that if she had compromised then maybe they would have been alive. She apologised too late: “I didn’t mean it, about not bring her here… You could come here in the evenings. I wouldn’t say a word” (p.247). When Hagar saw Arlene’s dead body the matron told her to, “Cry. Let yourself. It’s the best thing” (p.242). However she was to proud to let anyone see her cry. “I shoved her [matron’s] arms away. I straightened my spine… I wouldn’t cry in front of strangers, whatever it cost me” (p.242). She …show more content…
Almost, it seems, forever. The daughter of a successful Scottish merchant, Hagar chooses to marry the man her father is most likely to disapprove. Her father is hard and unforgiving. He dies without seeing his daughter again and without meeting her sons: his grandsons.
We find her late in life the picture of the crotchety old lady, being cared for by her eldest -- and least loved -- son and his aging wife. As an old woman Hagar is critical and sharp-tongued and unrelenting. She has lived a life that is utterly devoid of joy and warmth and love. In a late scene, a nurse in the hospital assists Hagar from the bathroom.
"Oh, I hate being helped --" My voice is pettish and doesn't resemble at all the fury inside me. "I've always done things for myself." "Haven't you ever given a hand to anyone in your time? It's your turn now. Try to look at it that way. It's your due." She's right. I needn't feel beholden. I can't think of many I've given a hand to, that's the only