Stone Angel Essay, Research Paper

Irony is the contrast between the way things seem and the way things are. There are three different types; verbal, situational and dramatic irony. Situational irony occurs throughout the novel. Hagar realizes her problems in her happiness on her deathbed and it is too late to do anything. She blames Bram for her faults, her favorite son abandons her and her neglected son ends up taking care of her. In Margaret Laurence?s novel, The Stone Angel, irony plays a major role in Hagar Shipleys happiness. Due to irony in the novel the main character, Hagar Shipley realizes the causes of her happiness too late. Hagar has lost her pride near the end of the book and this is shown in verbal irony. ?Pride was my wilderness, and the demon that led me there was fear. I was alone, never anything else, and never free, for I carried my chains within me, and they spread out from me and shackled all I touched?(Laurence 292).

Hagar finally decides not to hold in her emotions anymore and realizes she has lost her pride. She has to live her life with out her true happiness. Hagar also blames her husband Bram, for her unhappiness in her life. Situational irony occurs when Hagar Shipley blames Bram for her unhappiness. Hagar gets mad at Bram and Bram talks back to her. ? I?ll talk any way I feel like. If you don?t care for it, you can-?(85). This situation happens near the beginning of the book when they are fighting over money while figuring out what to use it for. Hagar Shipley also believes she has suffered because her favorite son abandons her while her juvenile son ends up taking care of her. Dramatic irony occurs when Hagar feels unhappy when her favorite son abandoned her and her juvenile son then takes care of her. Near the end of the novel, Marvin is talking to Hagar and she tells him that he is a better son. ?You?ve been cranky, Marvin. You?ve been a good to me, always. A better son than John?(304). Hagar always thought Marvin was the good son, but in the end finds out John Currie is really a Shipley. Irony has played a huge role in Hargar Shipley?s happiness throughout her life. In Margaret Laurence?s novel, The Stone Angel, irony plays a major role in Hagar Shipleys happiness. Irony seems to affect mans way of life, sometimes causing man to suffer and sometimes not suffer. Unfortunately Hagar suffers from the irony in her life causing her to believe her husband and son?s caused her unhappiness.