FREE IGNOU MEG-08 SOLVED ASSIGNMENT 2023-24

9. Functions of the Stone Angel in “The Stone Angel”:

In Margaret Laurence’s novel “The Stone Angel,” the stone angel statue serves as a powerful and multifaceted symbol that holds various functions throughout the narrative. As a recurring motif, the stone angel represents different aspects of the protagonist Hagar Shipley’s life, personality, and the broader themes of the novel.

1. Pride and Stubbornness: The stone angel symbolizes Hagar’s pride and stubbornness. Like the angel, Hagar is unyielding and unwilling to bend to the expectations of others or admit her weaknesses. The angel’s erect posture and stern expression mirror Hagar’s own demeanor and her resistance to vulnerability.
2. Family Legacy: The stone angel also embodies the Shipley family legacy and the weight of tradition. It stands in the cemetery as a memorial to Hagar’s father, a testament to her family’s past. Hagar’s relationship with her father is complex, reflecting the strained connections within the family and the burden of carrying forward a lineage that she both respects and resents.
3. Death and Mortality: The stone angel serves as a memento mori, a reminder of death and mortality. It marks the graves of Hagar’s family members, including her own eventual resting place. As Hagar reflects on her past and contemplates her impending death, the stone angel becomes a symbol of her own mortality and the inevitability of aging and passing away.
4. Isolation and Loneliness: The statue’s position at the grave of Hagar’s firstborn child, John, highlights the isolation and loneliness that Hagar experiences throughout her life. Her inability to connect with John and her strained relationships with her other children underscore the emotional distance she feels from her family and society at large.
5. Redemption and Self-Reflection: Toward the end of the novel, Hagar’s perception of the stone angel changes. She sees it as a symbol of her own potential for redemption and self-reflection. As she gains insight into her past mistakes and confronts her own vulnerabilities, the stone angel becomes a metaphor for Hagar’s evolving understanding of herself and her capacity for change.
6. Narrative Structure: The stone angel also plays a role in the novel’s narrative structure. The novel begins and ends with references to the stone angel, framing Hagar’s life story. This cyclical structure emphasizes the idea that Hagar’s life, like the angel’s presence, is inextricably linked to the cycles of birth, death, and renewal.

In conclusion, the stone angel in “The Stone Angel” serves as a rich and multi-dimensional symbol that encompasses various themes and facets of Hagar Shipley’s life. It represents her pride, family legacy, mortality, isolation, potential for redemption, and the novel’s narrative structure. Through its various functions, the stone angel contributes to the novel’s exploration of character development, emotional depth, and the complex interplay between personal history and larger societal forces.