The Stone Angel
Chapter 9
Plot 1 Summary
• Hagar wakes up alone in the abandoned cannery at
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Shadow Point. She is disoriented and confused about
her situation.
Hagar realizes that she had discussed her son John with
Murray the previous night while intoxicated.
Murray arrives with Doris and Marvin in tow. They tell
Hagar how they have been worrying about her, they
even went to the police.
Marvin tells Hagar that she is suffering from exposure,
and she must go to the hospital. Hagar gets upset and
tries to convince Marvin that she does not need medical
attention.
When Hagar arrives at the hospital, she is placed in a
Plot 1 Continued
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Hagar was touched by the nurse’s sympathy when she was given
pills. She cried.
The woman in the bed next to Hagar, Elva Jardine, talked a lot.
Hagar didn’t want to speak to her, and was rude to her.
Elva mentions that Hagar has been saying the name “John” in her
sleep. Hagar doesn’t believe that she has been talking in her sleep,
and is horrified that she has done so.
Marvin arrives. Hagar complains to him about all the noise and the
lack of privacy in her room. Marvin says that he will ask about semiprivate rooms.
Hagar tries to convince Marvin that she feels fine, and discovers that
Doris has not been feeling well.
Mrs. Jardine’s husband, Tom, visits her and tells her that she
doesn’t eat enough.
Plot 1 Continued
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Hagar discovers a few things about the ladies. Mrs. Dobereiner
prays in German to die faster. Mrs. Jardine is from Freehold, which
is near Manawaka. The two women find out that they both know the
Pearl family.
Mrs. Jardine tells Hagar that she should ask for a hypo to relieve her
pain. Hagar then realizes that Mrs. Jardine is the only friend she has
and she actually likes her.
Hagar gets out of bed in the night without realizing it. She gets upset
with the nurse for trying to help her.
Doris visits Hagar. She brings flowers and news that Tina is getting
married to a young lawyer that she has known for a few months.
Hagar tells Doris to give Tina her sapphire ring. A few moments
later, Hagar regrets giving it away because no one will appreciate it.
Plot 1 Continued
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Doris and Marvin tell Hagar that she can move to a semi-private
room. Hagar actually is disappointed that she is leaving the public
ward.
Marvin feels like he can never do anything right.
Hagar then rolls over in bed and pretends to be asleep so that Doris
and Marvin will leave.
Characters
Hagar
 PRIDE
- pg250 (paragraph 3)
- pg253 (paragraph 2)
- pg258 (paragraph 3)
 INDEPENDENCE
- pg252 (paragraph 13)
- pg254 (paragraph 7)
- pg269
 CONFUSED
- pg249
- pg275
Characters Continued
Doris
 CARING
- pg251
 THOUGHTFUL
- pg278 (paragraph 2)
Marvin
 PASSIVE
- pg251 (paragraph 4)
 CONCERNED
- pg262/263
Theme
 PRIVACY
-pg255 (“I’m like an exhibition in a museum… the illusion of privacy”)
-pg261 (“There is nowhere to be alone here. The curtains are
perpetually open.”)
 PRIDE
-pg250 (“Hard to imagine… There’s no one like me in this world.”)
-pg258 (“I can’t bear to feel indebted.”)
-pg276 (“Oh, I hate being helped -… I’ve always done things for
myself.”)
 CHANGE
-pg253 (“Impulsively, hardly knowing… I feel lightened and eased.”)
-pg264 (“.. I know I’ve been unreasonable… As though it really
helped.”)
Literary Techniques
 FORESHADOWING
-pg250 “All I really want is a glass of water.”
-pg254 “Odd. Only now do I see that what’s going to happen can’t
be delayed indefinitely.”
 IRONY
-pg260 “Marvin’s your son? I seen him yesterday. Fine-looking
fellow. You’re lucky. I got no one like that.”
 CONFLICT
-pg257/258 (internal – Hagar starts crying for no apparent reason
when she is usually void of emotion)
-pg280 (external – Hagar argues with Marvin and Doris about
moving to a semi-private room when she asked for it in the first
place)