Good literature is considered not an escape from reality , but a plunge into a deeper reality, where universal truth's are glimpsed. This statement is true to a high degree for both, The Stone Angel , by Margaret Laurence and Hamlet, by William Shakespeare. The protagonists, Hagar in The Stone Angel and Hamlet in Hamlet go on a journey to discover knowledge and to achieve a better understanding about them selves. Both Characters depart, Hagar escaping her nursing home , while Hamlet sent away for his "own protection ". Along the way, they have test and trials which furthers their understanding of them selves. At last resulting in a transformation which gives them the final touch of understanding who they are. Therefore , through the examination of Hargar Shipley and Hamlet's departure, initiation and transformation, it becomes evident that both Characters have achieved deeper knowledge about them selves.
Firstly, Both Hagar and Hamlet depart, leaving their known behind, and entering the unknown to understand them selves better. When Hagar finds out that soon she will be heading to the nursing home, she plans her escape. That night she does not sleep and says, "I can recall a quiet place, I think, not so very far from here Shadow Point " (p.139). She plans on going to Shadow Point to learn about her self. Once she gets there she realizes that she doesn't have a light and says, " I have no light. A person needs a light-that's a certainty. I wonder if I am here at all or if I only imagine myself to be " (p.162). Light usually represents knowledge , when Hagar talks about the light, she is talking about not knowing her self , since she does not have a "light " yet. Similarly, Hamlet also departs from Elsinore. Hamlet ˜s departure is caused by polonius's death. Hamlet has killed Polunoiu's thinking it was the king, Claudius. Claudius is worried, because Polonius death could have been his death and sends Hamlet to England.
"The Stone Angel," by Margaret Laurence, is a novel written through the eyes of Hagar, the ninety year old protagonist who battles with a constant fear of being forgotten in her remaining years of life. ... Steven and Tina play a subtle, but powerful role in "The Stone Angel," as their relationship with Hagar are critical to her revelations during her last years of life. ...
The Way The Plot Develops The Meaning Of The Title In The Stone Angel In The Stone Angel, Margaret Lawrence portrays a woman attempting to understanding herself and her life. ... These characteristics and those of the stone angel, which was made of stone, was erected out of pride, and has no eyes, are strikingly similar. ... At this point Hagar realizes that her heart is made of stone, and that she has been hard and has never opened up to anyone, like the stone angel. ... Hagars blindness is comparable to the stone angel because the stone angel never had any eyes ...
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist, Hamlet, is depicted as an antihero. ... Hamlet does not like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern since they are servants of the Claudius, Hamlet's mortal enemy. ... (IV, iii, 49-50) The cherub, or the angel, gives Hamlet a sense of superiority over Claudius. Having an angel at one's side would be a definite sign of power, which is exactly what Hamlet tries to maintain over Claudius in their constant power struggle. Just when Claudius thinks he controls Hamlet, it is really Hamlet who has the upper hand over Claudius. ...
A Criticism on Hamlet Among the works of William Shakespeare, Hamlet stands out as a paradigm of human fault through the focus on the inability to control human emotion. ... Religion pervades all aspects of Hamlet. ... (Stone) It confirms his bitterness toward his mother's actions and makes concrete the evidence that the female is viewed as a weaker sex. ... Stone suggests "the view of androgyny is imbued with the pious and nostalgic aim of recapturing the paradisiacal union of male and female components before the fall into separate and divisive sexes."" ... (Stone) Repeatedly Ha...
A prince named Hamlet is the main character. ... Hamlet thought it was Claudius, How now? ... Time had gone by and supposedly Hamlet was getting worse, so Claudius decided to send Hamlet to an asylum in England. ... Laertes landed a deadly blow to Hamlet; but in a scuffle, the swords exchanged hands and Hamlet also landed a vital blow. ... Just after Hamlet died, Horatio had these words to say of Hamlet, Now cracks a noble heart, good night sweet prince,/ And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. (5.2, 361-362) These famous words will be remembered for a long time. ...
The literary purpose of the beginning part of Stone Angel is to provide expository information on the main characters, the setting, and the situation through the use of symbolism. ... The symbols of the stone angel, the cemetery it is in, and the flowers found within allow us to glimpse into the main characters head before she is formally heard or discussed. ... The stone angel stood not as a tribute, but rather as a means for self-advancement in the eyes of the town. ... Just as those who cared not at all about her carved the stone angel in a distant place, so does this woman seem to h...
Can we become angels? ... What is the origin of angels? ... Can we become angels? ... Angels rolled away the stone from the front of the tomb. ... This angel" final words here close the door on angel worship he says, "Worship God." ...
Hamlet will be interpreted differently depending on the reader. ... (I, ii, 138-159) Hamlet is ashamed of his mother's bed hopping. ... Even in the act I, scene iv, Hamlet shows his deathly flaw. "Angels and ministers of grace defend us! ... I"ll call thee Hamlet, / King, father, royal Dane. ...
The Stone Angel As I began reading The Stone Angel I didn't think I would be able to enjoy the novel just because it is not really the type of book I would read. ... And I think the whole purpose of the stone angel in the graveyard is the one thing that never really changed through out Hagar's life it just remained constant, looking over things....
