hagar

Why did Hagar become such a bitter old lady? In the novel, The Stone Angel, by Margaret Laurence, the main character, Hagar, becomes a very bitter person due to the circumstances that she encounters. In the following paragraphs it will be proven that Hagar the hag became such a bitter old lady because of her family, the death that plagued her life and her economic stature. Through her relationships and hardships, Hagar's life is changed forever.

Hagar had a tough time with her family when she was growing up, from her father that wouldn't let her run her own life to her drunk of a husband. First off, Hagar's father Jason Curie treated her like a possession and a little kid at the same time: "Anyways, no daughter of mine is going out there alone. You'll not teach, miss."(44) In a way you can see that he loves her in his own manner, but his way of showing it is very old fashioned; he treats like a possession and not a person. There were times when he showed that he loves her: Hagar "I was clever in school and father was pleased. Sometimes when I got a star for my work, he'd give me a paper of button candies or a handful of those lozenges that bore sugary messages - Be mine, you beauty..." (13). Overall,

Throughout the book, Hagar experiences several economic classes; from the middle class living with her father to poor with her husband, back too middle class with Mr.Oatley and eventually to upper-middle class living with her son Marvin and his wife Doris. Hagar's father discriminated against the people in the town that were 'no goods', the ones with not a lot of money. Because of this Hagar developed a snobby attitude towards people without money. Hagar didn't have this attitude towards her husband Bram who had very little money. However she later found out the reason for this was because he made stupid business decisions and was a drunk. When Hagar was living with Mr. Oatley she was the maid but she was making good money and had free room and board. Later when Hagar was living with her son and daughter-in-law they lived in a big house and once again had money. One night Hagar knocked over a lamp and Doris freaked out. Hagar remarked: 'then we'll buy another lamp, buy ten I'll pay.' (78). There had been times when she couldn't afford a lamp not to mention electricity. Throughout Hagar's life there were many times when she was rich or poor and it altered her way of thinking. Hagar's constant comparison of her social status helped create her unhappiness and contributed to her developing into a bitter old hag.

It is apparent that everything around Hagar was dead or dying. By the time Hagar's husband died Hagar had already left him. Although she didn't care much when he died, she was there for her son John to support him in his time of anguish. Later in the novel