ANALYSIS OF THE STYLE AND STRUCTURE OF THE NOVEL THE STONE ANGEL BY MARGARET LAURENCE

Margaret Laurence’s 1964 novel The Stone Angel depicts the story of Hagar Shipley, whose life was filled with chaos and sorrows. Hagar Shipley the protagonist of the novel is a ninety year old woman who outlived her husband and younger son John. Hagar is the daughter of a wealthy shop owner, Jason Currie. As a young woman she marries Brampton Shipley against the wishes of her parents. After marriage she gave birth to two sons Marvin and John, among which Hagar shows favoritism towards younger son John. Hagar and Brampton’s marriage become unsuccessful and they become separated. Hagar takes John along with her, but finally he returns to his father. Hagar visits her hometown Manawaka, after hearing the news of Brampton’s poor health, and he dies soon. Then John too dies soon in a car accident. Upon hearing the news of John’s death, Hagar doesn’t show any emotions. From these incidents she becomes a strong, emotionless person, the stone angel, as the title suggests. Then, she lives with her elder son Marvin and his wife Doris. Hagar runs off from them, when they planned to send her to nursing home, and wanders around at Shadow point. Towards the end Marvin and Doris takes her back home, brings to the hospital. Aware that she is dying Hagar finally apologizes to Marvin.
This life story of Hagar is presented in the first person point of view by the author. The narrator itself is Hagar, who presents the events in the form of fragmented memories and images. The novel is divided into ten chapters and they shifts back and forth between the present and the past. At the present Hagar is a ninety year old woman, whose physical breakdown made her dependent. As Hagar narrates her own story, the narrative arc goes back to her early ages, where the events are presented in a chronological order. But these memories and images of the past occur in a fragmented way, which represents the present, helpless, ill condition of Hagar. Margaret Laurence has incorporated the technique of stream of consciousness in the narration. This made the mental and emotional state of narrator transparent. And by this the readers will also be able to perceive the intensity of her feelings and experiences and they can feel with her. The shift from present state to past memories can also be analysed as the attempt of Hagar to
suppress her fear of mortality. The use of Hagar as narrator to tell her own story makes the work more special. Even though Hagar tells her past in the form of monologues, whose tragic flaw is excessive pride, they can also be considered as biased. By the structure it can also be considered as a kind of autobiography of Hagar. The shift from present to past somehow resembles the narrative part of Benjamin in the novel The Sound and the Fury. Margaret Laurence made the novel rich with various symbols and images which strengthens the narrative. The title itself, identifies with Hagar. The stone angel represents the rigid, unbending, proud self of Hagar. But at the same time she is not completely without emotions. Towards the end she feels guilt, sorrow and regret. So, the symbol of stone angel
clearly depicts Hagar. As an angel she considered herself as superior to others, whose tragic flaw was excessive pride. The symbol of eggs, used by author represents nurture and compassion for others, which lacks in Hagar. While analyzing the images used by the author, the biblical image is superior. The name Hagar, came from Bible, Abraham’s concubine and mother of Ishmael. As Hagar was banished from heaven, Hagar in the novel also left her home. The nursing home and hospital imagery can be related to death which Hagar fears. The narration, images and symbols makes the novel greatest Canadian novels ever written by Margaret Laurence. The two narrative arcs, narration through fragmented images and stream of consciousness technique, first person perspective etc make the structure and style of the novel different.