The Stone Angel/ Jason Currie's pride - Essay Example

The Stone Angel/ Jason Currie's pride One of the most renowned of Margaret Laurence’s series of novels set in the fictitious town of Manawaka, The Stone Angel (1964) is noted for its depiction of the major theme, i.e. pride, through its major characters, such as Hagar and Jason Currie. In this greatly acclaimed Canadian novel, the novelist is greatly effective in presenting the most prevailing theme of pride through the characterization, and almost all the characters in the novel including Hagar, John, Bram, Jason, and Lottie represent pride in themselves, their accomplishments and their families.

Whereas Hagar exhibits her pride in her heritage and Bram in his horses, we can clearly make out that Jason’s pride lay in his store, his daughter, and his heritage. In a reflective exploration of the character of Jason Currie, who proves to be a man of authority and power, it becomes evident that he is a real representation of the general theme of pride in the novel. This paper makes a profound analysis of the character of Jason Currie in order to bring out the relationship between the characterization and the theme of pride in the novel.

It is fundamental to realize that the character of Jason Currie is a pride character all through the novel, especially on the subject of his store, his daughter, and his heritage. Jason Currie is proclaimed self-made man who takes pride in his daughter, and he controls and dictates over his children, ruling them with an iron fist. A careful analysis of the character of Jason Currie confirms that he is, economically, a very successful man and he takes pride in his business, i.e. his store. As his daughter puts it, “Father took such pride in the store – you’d have thought it was the only one on earth.

It was the first in Manawaka, so I guess he had due cause. He would lean across the counter, spreading his hands, and smile so wonderfully you’d feel he welcomed the world.” (Laurence, 9) Therefore, it is essential to maintain that Jason Currie is a successful man in his life and business and he took pride in his daughter and his store. In an exploration of the theme of pride in the character of Jason Currie, it becomes lucid that, on many occasions, his pride got the better of him, and it is the major reason behind his daughter’s greatest revolt against him.

It is important to recognize that Jason is a father who was immensely proud of his daughter and he considered her as his most remarkable prize in life. However, her daughter Hagar, on the other hand, looked down on the father by going against his wishes. Hagar’s greatest revolt against the father’s pride and domineering ways of bringing up children is her marriage with Bram, against the propositions of the father who dismissed the notion in his egotistical ways. His pride was very much evident when he turned down the intentions of his daughter to marry Bram: “You’ll not marry that fellow ever, I can vow to that much…” (Laurence, 48) He believes that “There’s not a decent girl in this town would wed without her family’s consent…” (Laurence, 49) In fact, this is the reason why Hagar shows the spirit of rebelliousness by marrying Bram of her own accord.

Thus, Jason’s pride in his daughter got the better of him at the end. In short, the novelist has been greatly effective in emphasizing the theme of pride and its consequences through the character of Jason Currie, who exhibits ultimate pride in his daughter and his store. Work Cited Laurence, Margaret. The Stone Angel. New York: University of Chicago Press. 1993. P 9.