The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurences Stone Angel Essay -- Stone

The Use of Symbolism in Margaret Laurences Stone AngelThe statue of the stone backer is symbolical of the Currie family reserve, Hagars inability to relate and share her emotions, and the cheatness and ignorance that comes from constantly refusing to jar against things from another point of view other than your own. The Stone holy man is symbolic of the Currie family pride because it does not seem to serve its purpose, which is to honour Hagars mother who had died plentiful birth to her. Hagar describes Mrs. Currie to be a meek woman and a halt ghost, whereas she describes herself to be stubborn and practical. The statue was bought in Italy and brought to the Manawaka cemetery at a terrible expense . . . in pride to mark her hit the books and proclaim his Mr. Curries dynasty, as he fancied, forever and a day (p. 3). Mr. Currie bought the angel in pride rather than in grief for someone he considdered his possesion, his dynasty. The stone angel is also a symbol of Hagars pride as she inherrited it from her father. It was this pride that kept her from speaking up and fighting for her brother when Mr. Currie send her away to college to become more civilized. She knew Matt deserved to go more than her, but she never stuck up for either him or herself. In an attempt at freedom, or maybe just to spite her father, Hagar unite Bram Shipley soon after she came back from school. From day one, Hagars marriage to Bram was a fatten out embarrassment to her and her family When id listen to Bram spinning his cobwebs, then it would turn my stomach intimately of all, not what he said but that he do himself a laughingstock (p. 114). Upon hearing about their plans to wed, Hagars father disowns her. Bram was not a large man by any means, he ... ...itals rise to meet his. he never knew. I never let him know. I never stave aloud, and i made certain the trembling was all inner . . . i prided myself on keeping my pride intact, like some maidenhood. (p. 81) The stone ange l, in additon to being made of hard marble, is doubley blind. Not only because it is made of stone, but because the artist neglected to add the eyeballs to his masterpiece. This is also symbolic of Hagar because she is blind when it comes to the feelings of others. It prevents her from having a friendship with Lottie. It isnt until its too late that she realizes she has more in uncouth with lottie than either of them had ever imagined. It also prevents her from seeing that Marvin was the son shed been looking for, that her pride had been holding her back, and that sometimes the problems of others were of more importance than her own.