Comparing the Bible and Margaret Laurences The Stone Angel: An Examin

Comparing the Bible and Margaret Laurences The Stone Angel An Examination of Archetypal ReferencesOften times capital novels and plays altogetherude to religion, to mythology, or to other literary works for dramatic purposes. Shakespearean plays are perfect examples. Allusions help the reader or spectator better understand, by visualization, a consultation or an event in a novel. In some cases, the calibers, the events, or a series of events are structured according to the battalion and the action in other stories, whether the stories be religious, mythological, classical, or historical. The character or the event, therefore, becomes a prototype of the character or event alluded to. A prototypical character in a novel is usually referred to as an archetype. The Stone Angel, a chronicle of Hagar Shipleys life, purposely or coincidentally parallels the Biblical story of Hagar, the Egyptian bondwoman, from the news of Genesis thus, Hagar Shipley is an archetype of the Biblical H agar. In fact, many of the events and people in The Stone Angel are similar to the events and people from the book of Genesis. The most heavy archetypal reference, however, is Hagar herself, for many of the things she does, says, and represents are indicative of the things the Biblical Hagar does, says, and represents. Aside from sharing the same name, to what extent does Hagar Shipley tally the Egyptian Hagar, and, to what extent does The Stone Angel resemble the book of Genesis? Although both stories are very similar, they are also very different. These similarities and these differences become apparent upon examination of Hagar, John, Marvin, Bram, and the Biblical characters they parallel. As earlier stated, Hagar Shipleys character is v... ...l archetypes in The Stone Angel should consider and examine several aspects before delving into their work. As a tip, before writing anything, ask yourself to what extent, in your own view, does Hagar and all other characters match thei r archetypes, if at all? Are the two stories similar enough that their resemblance is, in no way, accidental? These questions will help modify your arguments. Bibliography and Works Cited Blewett, D.. The Unity of the Manawaka Cycle. The World of the Novel A Students Guide to Margaret Laurences The Stone Angel. Ed. Lillian Perigoe and Beverly Copping. Scarborough Prentice Hall Inc., 1983. 36. Laurence, Margaret. The Stone Angel. Toronto McClelland &Stewart Inc., 1988. Thomas, Dylan. Do Not Go Gentle into that smashing Night. The Stone Angel. Margaret Laurence. Toronto McClelland & Stewart Inc.,1988. Prologue.