In the heart of Canadian literature, Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel stands as a towering exploration of human resilience, regret, and the unyielding passage of time. Published in 1964, this novel is a poignant meditation on the life of Hagar Shipley, a woman whose unyielding spirit and refusal to bend to societal expectations both define and doom her. Through Hagar’s fiercely independent yet deeply flawed character, Laurence delves into themes of pride, family, and the struggle for self-understanding, creating a narrative that resonates with profound emotional depth.
The Unyielding Spirit of Hagar Shipley
Hagar Shipley, the protagonist and narrator of The Stone Angel, is a character of remarkable complexity. At 90 years old, she reflects on her life with a mixture of defiance and despair, her voice a blend of sharp wit and bitter hindsight. Hagar’s character is shaped by her unrelenting pride, a trait she likens to the stone angel in her family’s cemetery—beautiful but unyielding, incapable of expressing the vulnerability she feels. This pride, inherited from her father and nurtured by her own stubbornness, becomes both her greatest strength and her most crippling weakness.
From her youth, Hagar rejects the traditional roles expected of women in her small Manitoba town. She marries Bram Shipley, a man beneath her family’s social standing, not out of love but as an act of rebellion against her domineering father. This decision sets the tone for her life—a series of choices driven by pride rather than genuine desire. Her relationships with her sons, Marvin and John, are similarly marred by her inability to express tenderness, leaving her isolated and unfulfilled in her old age.
Themes of Pride and Regret
Pride is the central theme of The Stone Angel, a force that both empowers and destroys Hagar. It is her shield against the world’s judgments but also the barrier that prevents her from forging meaningful connections. Hagar’s pride is so deeply ingrained that she cannot admit her mistakes, even to herself, until it is too late. Her refusal to ask for help, her insistence on maintaining control, and her inability to forgive—both herself and others—leave her alone and bereft in her final days.
Regret, though, is the shadow that follows Hagar’s pride. As she lies dying, she is forced to confront the consequences of her choices. Her relationship with her son John, in particular, is a source of profound sorrow. John, the more sensitive and artistic of her sons, is the one she loves most but also the one she fails most spectacularly. Her inability to express her love or understand his struggles leads to his tragic death, a loss that haunts her until the end. Hagar’s reflections on her life are a testament to the human capacity for self-deception and the pain of unspoken emotions.
The Symbolism of the Stone Angel
The stone angel of the title is a recurring symbol throughout the novel, representing Hagar’s unyielding nature and her inability to express vulnerability. The statue, erected in memory of Hagar’s mother, is described as “a stone angel with a stone heart, and blind eyes that saw nothing.” This image encapsulates Hagar’s emotional paralysis—her beauty and strength are undeniable, but they come at the cost of human connection. The angel’s blindness also reflects Hagar’s own refusal to see the truth about herself and her relationships until it is too late.
The stone angel’s presence in the cemetery, a place of death and memory, underscores the novel’s preoccupation with mortality and the passage of time. Hagar’s life is a series of losses—her youth, her independence, her loved ones—and the stone angel serves as a constant reminder of the impermanence of all things. Yet, in her final moments, Hagar achieves a kind of redemption, acknowledging her failures and finding a measure of peace in her vulnerability.
Laurence’s Narrative Mastery
Margaret Laurence’s prose is a masterclass in psychological realism. Her use of Hagar’s first-person narration allows readers to inhabit the mind of a woman whose sharp intellect and biting humor mask a deep well of pain. Hagar’s voice is unsparing, both in her critique of others and in her self-assessment. Laurence’s ability to capture the complexities of human emotion—the way pride and love, regret and defiance can coexist within a single heart—is what makes The Stone Angel a timeless work of literature.
The novel’s structure, alternating between Hagar’s present circumstances and her memories, mirrors the fragmented nature of her thoughts. This non-linear narrative not only provides insight into Hagar’s character but also emphasizes the ways in which the past continues to shape the present. Laurence’s evocative descriptions of the Canadian Prairies further ground the story, creating a sense of place that is as integral to the novel as its characters.
The Enduring Relevance of The Stone Angel
The Stone Angel remains a powerful exploration of the human condition, its themes as relevant today as they were in 1964. Hagar’s struggle to balance independence with vulnerability, her refusal to conform to societal expectations, and her search for self-understanding resonate with readers across generations. The novel challenges us to confront our own pride and the ways in which it may hinder our ability to connect with others.
Moreover, The Stone Angel is a testament to the power of literature to capture the complexity of lived experience. Hagar is not a likable character in the traditional sense—she is often harsh, unyielding, and self-destructive. Yet, it is precisely her flaws that make her so compelling. In Hagar, Laurence has created a character who is both uniquely Canadian and universally human, a woman whose story continues to haunt and inspire.
At its core, *The Stone Angel* is a story about the human struggle for self-awareness and the redemptive power of vulnerability. Hagar Shipley’s journey, though marked by pain and regret, ultimately leads her to a place of acceptance, reminding us that it is never too late to confront the truths of our lives.
FAQ Section
What is the significance of the stone angel in *The Stone Angel*?
+The stone angel symbolizes Hagar Shipley’s unyielding pride and emotional paralysis. Its blind eyes and stone heart reflect her inability to express vulnerability and her refusal to see the truth about herself and her relationships.
How does Hagar’s pride affect her relationships?
+Hagar’s pride prevents her from expressing love or tenderness, leading to strained relationships with her husband, sons, and others. Her inability to admit mistakes or ask for help isolates her and causes profound regret in her later years.
What role does the setting play in *The Stone Angel*?
+The Canadian Prairies serve as a backdrop that reflects Hagar’s inner landscape—vast, unforgiving, and marked by the passage of time. The setting grounds the story and emphasizes themes of isolation and endurance.
Why is Hagar Shipley considered a complex character?
+Hagar is complex because her unyielding pride, though a source of strength, is also her greatest flaw. Her sharp wit and defiance mask deep vulnerability and regret, making her a multifaceted and relatable figure.
What makes *The Stone Angel* a timeless work of literature?
+The novel’s exploration of universal themes—pride, regret, mortality, and the search for self-understanding—resonates across generations. Margaret Laurence’s masterful prose and complex characters ensure its enduring relevance.
Margaret Laurence once said, “When I write, I aim to tell the truth about the human heart.” In *The Stone Angel*, she achieves this with remarkable clarity, offering readers a story that is as unflinching as it is compassionate. Hagar Shipley’s journey is a reminder that the path to self-awareness, though often painful, is ultimately a path toward redemption.
In the end, The Stone Angel is not just a story about one woman’s life but a reflection of the struggles and triumphs we all face. It is a novel that challenges us to look inward, to confront our own stone angels, and to find the courage to let go of the pride that holds us back. Through Hagar’s eyes, we see the beauty and the pain of being human, and in her story, we find a mirror to our own.
