| dc.description.abstract | Margaret Laurence makes frequent reference to
the element, water, and also uses water-related words
in her fiction; often these convey symbolic meanings.
This thesis is based on a study of Laurence's five
novels: This Side Jordan, The Stone Angel, A Jest of
God, The Fire-Dwellers and The Diviners. In these
novels fifty water-related words are used a total of
over five hundred times. Frequently the symbolism involved
in the use of many of these words is directed
towards one of several specific functions. The purpose
of this thesis is to present an analysis of these functions.
Out of the more than twenty possible symbolic
functions of water itself and water-related words in
the five novels, three functions have been chosen for
analysis because of their obvious predominance. Laurence's
use of water symbols or water-related symbols to depict
the four major periods in man's life is discussed in
Chapter I. Chapter II emphasizes her use of this symbolism
with regard to the survival and regenerative
forces in man's life. In Chapter III Laurence's use of similar symbolism to assist in the creation of characterization
is emphasized. All these functions Laurence
has incorporated successfully into the weaving of her
fiction, making the symbolism intrinsic in the sense
that it does not intrude upon the reader; however,
the presence of the water symbolism and all the other
symbolism in the novels stimulates the reader who either
consciously, unconsciously or subconsciously interprets
the symbols and so gains a new depth of understanding
and appreciation for the writing. | |
