Aging Themes in Laurence's The Stone Angel

Margaret Laurence's The Stone Angel tracks the lives of a number of characters, central among whom are Hagar Shipley, her husband Bram, and her friend and sometimes nemesis Lottie Simmons. A central theme in the novel is aging, a process that is inexorable and brings with it both self-awareness and frailty. This essay will demonstrate that none of these characters (Hagar, Bram, and Lottie) age well, most having missed the joy of life and settled instead for less satisfying achievements.

Hagar is the narrator of the story and her life sits at its heart. She is seen by her son, Marvin, as "a holy terror" while her nurse regards her as follows: "She's got an amazing constitution, your mother. One of those hearts that just keeps on working, whatever else is gone" (305). Indeed

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Category: Literature - A