"The Fire-Dwellers"

Book Review # 93388

English > Analysis
Literature > Canadian
Women Studies > Marriage

"The Fire-Dwellers"

An analysis of Margaret Lawrence's novel, "The Fire Dwellers."

1,455 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2007 Canada

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how in Margaret Lawrence's novel, "The Fire Dwellers", the predominant theme of female gender struggles manifests itself in the personal insecurities, abuse, and family struggles that the main character must confront. It looks at how through the use of points of views and imagery, Margaret Lawrence portrays this epic struggle of a household wife in her traditional role as caretaker of the family.

From the Paper:

"As a struggling homemaker and caretaker of the family, Stacy is a woman who is a victim of her own self-insecurity. The author, Margaret Lawrence, wrote in Stacy's point of view to allow the reader to captivate and embody the tragic feelings of the self-worthlessness and isolation that Stacy suffers, thereby allowing them to fully apprehend the battle she must confront against her own inner demons. Even Stacy herself readily admits that she has problems accepting herself, which is only the beginning of her own self-demise, "Everything would be all right if only I was better educated. I mean, if I were. Or if I were beautiful. Okay, that's asking too much. Let's say if I took off ten or so pounds." Her lack of confidence in her physical self and pessimistic attitude leads to the beginnings of paranoia and insanity. "