Hagar Escape To Shadow Point example essay topic

Author Connections In The Stone Angel, Margaret Laurence chose to have her character Hagar, escape to a place of peace. This resembles her life in a similar way. Laurence traveled a lot throughout her life, and by doing so, it gave her visions for her writing. In 1950, Laurence moved to Africa. Since then, the books she wrote often reflected her time spent there. Moving to Africa was her relief from life.

Going to Africa, she was alone with her husband and was moving to a unknown place to her. She did not know what to expect, or who she would meet; but one thing was clear, she could start fresh. We believe that this may have been where Margaret Laurence got the idea to have Hagar escape to Shadow Point. She wrote the novel The Stone Angel while living there, although it didn't publish until 1964. Life Connections Hagar's view of life is very similar to that of many older people.

Running away to Shadow Point was a sense of relief for Hagar because of the pressure being put on her by Marvin and Doris. Her children made her feel "old" and incapable of caring for herself. Although a 90 year old lady may need some assistance, she did not feel the need to be dependant on others. After interviewing a few senior citizens, I have come to the conclusion that old people don't want to feel old! In most cases, becoming dependant usually means on family.

In Hagar's case, her family could only help her for so long before they gave up. This was the turning point for Hagar. She refused to live at Silver Threads. If her family could not take care of her, she didn't want anyone's help.

This drove her to Shadow Point. She felt a nuisance to Doris and Marvin, yet betrayed by them because they were trying to get rid of her. "If it were John, he'd not consign his mother to the poorhouse". (Pg 75) In real life, most people don't go to the extreme of running away but feel the same was as Hagar about losing her independence.

The novel also relates to life because people in general who are stressed out feel the need to escape. Hagar had many uneasy days growing up. Living with Marvin and Doris itself was a stressful situation because Doris was always nagging about upsetting Marvin. Stress can build up to such an extreme, one would do anything to escape. (Suicide, running away.) The stress of living with her family also played a part in leaving to Shadow Point. "After having independence for so many years, it is so hard to let go.

Even though it sometimes feels like life would be easier that way, giving up independence is giving up self pride. Once you become dependant on other people, there is no turning back, and you feel helpless for relying on other people to take care of you". -Beryl Wolfenden.