Strength is often misinterpreted as showing no emotion. In Margaret Laurence’s novel The Stone Angel, The protagonist, Hagar Currie/Shipley is strongly influenced by her father, Jason Currie. Jason taught Hagar to be tough and tenacious. Hagar shields her weakness with her inability to help her peers. Hagar unsuccessfully plays the roles of a maiden, wife, and mother in her life. As a maiden in a patriarchal society, Hagar does not conform and refuses to offer sympathy to her family. During her time as a wife, Hagar is unable to show her husband love, and does not fulfill the typical role of a wife. As a mother, Hagar fails to show her children affection and ultimately drives them away from her. Hagar’s inability to comfort her family hurts not only them, but herself.
Hagar fails to be sympathetic towards her family as a maiden in a patriarchal society.
At a very young age, Hagar has the task of nurturing her brother, Dan, back to health after he falls into the lake and comes down with pneumonia. Her other brother, Matt, suggests that pretending to be their deceased mother would comfort Dan. “’I can’t Matt.’ I was crying, shaken by torments he never even suspected, wanting above all else to do the thing he asked, but unable to do it, unable to bend enough” (Laurence 25). Medical treatments are not …show more content…
When Marvin leaves for war, Hagar fails to show affection and love towards him. “’Well, you take care now, and be sure to write. You’d better be getting along, or you’ll not get into town in time to catch the train” (Laurence 129). At 17 years of age, Marvin is bridging over to adulthood, and still is not totally dependable. Hagar fails to realize at such a vulnerable time, Marvin needs a comforting mother. Although Hagar wants to express her feelings of love, she is not able to. When Marvin returns from the war, he does not return home, but goes out to the coast, leaving Hagar without her first born
Hagar fails to be sympathetic towards her family as a maiden in a patriarchal society.
At a very young age, Hagar has the task of nurturing her brother, Dan, back to health after he falls into the lake and comes down with pneumonia. Her other brother, Matt, suggests that pretending to be their deceased mother would comfort Dan. “’I can’t Matt.’ I was crying, shaken by torments he never even suspected, wanting above all else to do the thing he asked, but unable to do it, unable to bend enough” (Laurence 25). Medical treatments are not …show more content…
When Marvin leaves for war, Hagar fails to show affection and love towards him. “’Well, you take care now, and be sure to write. You’d better be getting along, or you’ll not get into town in time to catch the train” (Laurence 129). At 17 years of age, Marvin is bridging over to adulthood, and still is not totally dependable. Hagar fails to realize at such a vulnerable time, Marvin needs a comforting mother. Although Hagar wants to express her feelings of love, she is not able to. When Marvin returns from the war, he does not return home, but goes out to the coast, leaving Hagar without her first born