Biblical Archetypes in the Stone Angel

In many great novels, the author alludes to religious annotations or other fictional and non-fictional works to increase the overall dramatic effect. The characters in the novel become an archetype from the original version of the other compositions. In The Stone Angel, Margaret Laurence’s characters refer time again to religious proverbs and Biblical stories. When Hagar Shipley is talking about her father she says, “He never missed a Sunday service, though, nor a grace at meals. He said it always himself, slowly, while we fidgeted and peeked.(17)” The references show a religious side and help build character for the individuals in the novel. Margaret Laurence takes an article out of the Bible about an Egyptian bondwoman named Hagar, and uses her as the archetype for Hagar Shipley in The Stone Angel. Throughout the story of The Stone Angel you will come to the certainty of how Hagar Shipley’s character and life correspond with that of Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman from the book of Genesis.

The story of Hagar the Egyptian bondwoman, begins in Chapter 16 of the book Genesis. Sarah was married to Abraham and was unable to provide children to start a family. Since Sarah was u

Taking a look at The Stone Angel, we can see how Margaret Laurence plays skilfully with her symbolism. The most obvious archetype reference, however, is Hagar, for many of the things she does, says, and represents are indicative of the things the Biblical Hagar does, says, and represents. Hagar, by law, is bound to Sarah. Abraham and Sarah restrict her from her freedom, just as Hagar Shipley is bound by the Currie code of values and her own pride. Hagar Shipley is also bound and robbed of her happiness by Marvin and Doris. Just like the Egyptian Hagar who wanders in the wilderness where she finds God, Hagar Shipley left Manawaka only to return to her wilderness of pride, where she too finds God. There are also similarities in their relationships with their husband's first wives. Both Laurence's Hagar and the Biblical Hagar are second wives. Abram's first wife is Sarah. Bram's first wife was Clara. The Biblical Hagar does not honour or respect Sarah just like Hagar Shipley ridicules and does not like Bram's first wife. Even the names are very similar. In addition John and Marvin, Hagar Shipley’s sons, parallel Jacob and Esau. In Hagar's eyes, John is her Jacob, she protects and favours John the same way that Rebekah favoured Jacob. John tends to his father as he dies and receives his father's blessing. Hagar wants John to be her Jacob as she says" I wish he

Some topics in this essay:
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