A Comparison of Relationships in Stone Angel, Fire-Dwellers, and Divine

Relationships in The Stone Angel, The Fire-Dwellers, and The Diviners There are always problems in every relationship, in every marriage. With strong communication, acceptance and a love for one another, these challenges can be overcome. In Margaret Laurences Manawaka Cycle, the characters all have enormous problems in their relationships. In the books The Stone Angel, The Fire-Dwellers, and The Diviners, the characters marriages all have varying degrees of trouble. However, through hard work and perseverance, the partners survive and grow. Each relationship in these books has two or common chord problems, that when combined, become daunting. However, the characters real problem is that they are alone in their marriage. Margaret Laurence states that workforce and women suffer equally the tragedy is not that they suffer, but that they suffer alone.1 These men and women are alone, not communicating nor respecting each other, which leads to personal problems in and in their confiden ce in themselves and each other. In Laurences The Stone Angel, Hagar Currie, a girl from town, marries Bram Shipley, a widowed country farmer. From the time of their marriage ceremony until Hagar leaves Bram, Hagars sense of pride hurts her, Bram, and their marriage. Hagar gives the appearance to Bram and the community that she hates his looks, and is disgusted with him. Even at the dance where they first meet, Hagar reveals he... ... lexicon of Canadian Quotations and Phrases. (Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1979), 580. 2Margaret Laurence, The Stone Angel (Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1964), 47. 3Laurence, The Stone Angel, 69. Bibliography Gray, John. Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. New York Harper Collins Publishers, 1992. Hamilton, Robert M. and Shields, Dorothy, eds. The Dictionary of Canadian Quotations and Phrases. Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1979. Laurence, Margaret. The Diviners. Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1974. Laurence, Margaret. The Fire Dweller s. Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1969. Laurence, Margaret. The Stone Angel. Toronto McClelland and Stewart, 1964.