Angela's Ashes By Frank McCort example essay topic

Angela's Ashes Angela's Ashes, by Frank McCort was written in the 1990's but reflects life in Ireland during the Depression. Frank McCort, the novel's protagonist, was fortunate to be born in America, the land of opportunity and freedom, but his family faced many difficulties due to the economic crisis and ultimately decided to find support in Ireland. What they found in their homeland is more economic struggles and many families in the same desperate situation with limited room for living, scarce amounts of food, and hardly any money. It was hard for the McCorts to raise their children as Irish Catholics because they were often subjected to the stereotype with the drunken father, emotionally wrecked mother, and kids running around that haven't been bathed in weeks. Angela's Ashes portrays a typical lifestyle of a lower class family living in Ireland during the late 1930's and early 1940's. One of the many problems the McCort family experienced was often the lack of money.

Frank's father would often drink away the dole money shortly after receiving his paycheck. This issue was very common not only in Limerick, where the McCort family lived, but all throughout the country. Malachy McCort Sr.'s actions kept his family living in poverty. He knew his family was constantly suffering from hunger and his children would often contract terminal diseases due to malnutrition, unsanitary living conditions, and weakness, which proved fatal to some of Frank's siblings. The deaths of his three-year-old twin sons and his infant daughter due to illness that could have been prevented with ordinary medications lead him to the pubs of Limerick to release his anger and dull his pain.

Because of his fathers alcoholism and the economic situation is his home in Limerick, Frank was forced to quit school at the age of fourteen and help at home (Johnson). He worked as a telegram boy giving part of his earnings to his family and saving the rest of it to move to America again someday. He also found a job delivering coal with Mr. Hannon, his next door neighbor. The labor makes Frank feel he is a man and is often the envy of the boys in his class. He comes to admire Mr. Hannon and wishes he were his father instead of Malachy. Frank did not want to follow in his fathers footsteps because of the burdens he often put upon his sons shoulders.

He was never home and very rarely did he have a stable job. The unemployment rate was extremely low at that time in Ireland. Many men lost their jobs because of the Depression. When Malachy Sr. accepted a new job in a factory, he would be fired shortly after for lack of maturity and responsibility. After payday on Friday, Malachy Sr. was often found at the pubs drinking all the money he just earned away. His habits of coming home roaring and heavily intoxicated, demanding that his sons die for Ireland confused his children on what to believe in.

It was a time when Catholicism prevailed and faith came before everything. Frank's teachers and the Catholic priests often taught that it was an honor to die for one's faith. His father said is an honor to die for their country, Ireland. Frank regularly wondered is there was anyone in the world that would like him to live (113).

Angela, Frank's mother, focused on raising her children to be well behaved and respectful without the help of her completely irresponsible husband. She took on the roles of a mother and father and often sacrificed personal dignity to provide for her children's well being and future. Angela's cousins are always trying to run her life because they married perfect gentlemen, but she raised her kids on her own. Although he did not respect his fathers way of living, frank cherished the times they spent together by the fire drinking tea and always remained loyal to him. The afflictions Frank's father places on himself affect the entire family. The McCorts lived an old, unkempt house in the slums of Limerick.

They moved several times with each house more defiled than the previous. In one of the houses, Frank and his brothers liked to call the upstairs Italy and the downstairs Ireland. Because it was relatively dry on the top floor, the boys enjoyed spending most of their time when they were not on the streets playing up in Italy. The downstairs was called Ireland because it was often flooded due of the amount of rain Ireland receives. In the streets, the boys would find many things to keep them occupied until dinnertime, be it sticks or an old ball.

They would wait for their father to bring home the money he earned working so Angela could go and buy more than bread and tea. The boys know it is an empty promise because they know their father would rather spend his earnings on alcohol than supporting the family. The plague of hunger cursed Frank's entire family. The McCorts never had enough food to eat and often had to borrow some bread and water from neighbors or Angela's sister, Aggie, or her mother. Hunger is mentioned over and over again in the memoir until it becomes a continual drumbeat underneath the plot developments (Sparknotes). It becomes relevant from the very beginning that everywhere Frank looks, hunger is right there in his face.

It's almost his birthright. At Christmas time, instead of having ham or roast for dinner, Malachy brings home a sheep's head. Although this was all they could afford, they ate it with gratitude. Frank is much like his father. They both are not willing to give up their dignity to appear helpless and charitable.

Frank would rather steal than beg in order to survive. He, along with a few of his school friends, found pleasure and satisfaction stealing fruit, berries, and vegetables from farmers. Although he realized he was committing a sin, he knew it was for the well being of his health. At school, some of the boys would tease Frank for living in an extremely poor family.

His social status denied him many opportunities in his community. He was prevented from becoming an alter boy twice at his church when they saw he was dressed in rags. A teacher at Frank's school informed Angela that her son was very intelligent and encouraged her to enroll him in the school the Christian Brothers were in charge of. Once again, the door was slammed by a priest in Frank's face, informing him there was no room for him. Although these episodes irritated Frank, he uses his anger to excel in other things.

Events such as a soccer game against the wealthy boys that ended in victory for Frank and his friends improved his self-esteem. He saves money for American because he views it as a classless society where his ambitions will be realized and his talents rewarded (Sparknotes). Through the years, Frank is weighed down by the sense of guilt. He feels his is doomed when he commits a sin. AS he progresses into adolescence, he matures, becoming interested in the opposite sex, religion, and drinking. While still working as a telegram boy, Frank meets Theresa Carmody, a seventeen year old girl suffering from consumption.

They eventually make love for the first time on Theresa's couch. Frank returned several times for many weeks and they shared their intimate feelings for each other. When he learned Theresa was in the hospital one day, he felt he caused her sudden condition. Theresa died within a week and Frank believes she is condemned to Hell for eternity for having relations outside of marriage. He worried about her soul and went to Mass everyday, praying that God will have mercy on her.

He learns to use Confession as an outlet to relieve his feelings of guilt and an outlet to all his problems. He unburdens himself of his guilt and is not ashamed of his sexual desires. When he turned sixteen, his Uncle, Pa Keating, brought him to a pub and gave him his first pint. Frank was a little hesitant because he didn't want to turn out like his 'Irish drunk' father but drank the pint anyway and slightly enjoyed the feeling. Although he could officially drink at that age, he chose to save the money he earned working for a better life in America. With the exception of his father, Frank's family remains close throughout his childhood in Limerick.

Frank is the first born, so he feels he has to look out for the rest of his siblings. He describes his brothers and sister, even the ones that died and how much he enjoyed growing up with them. His brother Malachy Jr., a year younger than him, was more attractive than Frank and often received more attention when they were out in public which Frank often envied. Frank's twin brothers, Eugene and Oliver, die within months from each other and his baby sister, Margaret, also dies from illness. Because of the closeness in age, Malachy and Frank shared a friendship. Part of the reason they both survived their childhood is because they both relied and supported each other.

Growing up in the same family with the same situations allowed them to better understand each other. Malachy Jr. looked up to his older brother by the way he supported his family when his father was away. Malachy compared Frank to Robin Hood, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor (Sparknotes). His actions saved him and his family from starvation many times. One of the most interesting aspects of the writing in Angela's Ashes is how the text is written (Planetpapers). His child-like writing style makes the memoir enjoyable and at times, humorous.

The spelling and grammar indicates that the child is writing, not the adult. The lack of punctuation makes is difficult to read and is hard to distinguish who is speaking and what is said as a whole. This aspect seems necessary to add to the style of writing (Planetpapers)..