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The limitations of their class.
Frank is confined to the lower class and because of this he is denied many opportunities. Although he is an intelligent and ambitious boy, he is prevented from becoming an altar boy and even further education. At the church they shut the door in his face when he turned up in his rags and the pupils on the better school would never accept him as an equal. But as I said, Frank is an ambitious boy and destined to grow up a decent man. Throughout the book Frank conquers many small obstacles. To him, however, they mean a lot and this gives him a confidence boost. When he finally manages to get an ‘adult job’ he is really proud of himself, although it is a poorly-paid job. Supporting his mother financially means a lot to him, especially because his father does not.
Hunger and poverty
Frank is plagued by hunger throughout the book. As the eldest of the brothers Frank feels responsible for taking care of his siblings. Seeing them starve effects him greatly. Frank’s father is an alcoholic and drinks away the dole or his salary every month, leaving the rest of his family with no money throughout the month. They eat whatever they can find, so the quality and the quantity of the food are really poor. Frank associates feeling satiated with feeling like an independent and successful member of society, because the only people that can afford food are the upper class people. His mother Angela sees the severeness of the situation for the children and does everything a mother can do for her children. At the end of the book she is so desperate she even starts to beg for food, because her husband is too proud to do so.
Male role model
Frank yearns for his father’s recognition. Frank’s father, his name is Malachy like his second son, is not a bad man and he loves his children dearly, but somehow he lost track of everything because of his alcohol abuse. Because he is from another part of Ireland the people of Limerick do not accept him. They say that because he is from outside from Limerick he is allowed to fail; he cannot be a decent man. He loses his jobs all the time, because he gets so drunk he is unable to go to work.
So on one hand Frank fights for his father’s love, trying to make him proud by trying to be a man and on the other hand his father disappoints him time and time again. It seems like it motivates him even more to be a better man.
Core
The McCourt family started their life in America. Back then there were father Malachy, mother Angela, eldest brother Frank, the twins Oliver and Eugene and baby sister Margaret. They were not rich, but life treated them fairly well. In the America they had a decent house with electricity, water and a toilet inside their house. Although he was still young Frank could still remember the death of his baby sister Margaret. His father is inconsolable. When Frank turned four, they returned to Ireland. No one could imagine how awful the life in Ireland was. Soon after they arrive the twin brothers die of pneumonia. Soon Frank’s mother is pregnant with Michael, but also Michael dies at a young age.
Important to know is that Ireland was very catholic and to this day still is. So religion plays a big part in Frank’s life and he confesses regularly, especially when he comes into puberty and does all kinds of ‘sinful things’. He often goes to a nearby chapel to pray to saint Francis. Saint Francis is really important to Frank because the two of the have the same name.
His life is basically the same every single day. Playing outside with friends, thinking of food and at night, when his drunken father comes home singing, he drags the boys out of bed and makes them swear to die for Ireland. The young boys are exposed to this torment every single night. This is when Angela feels ashamed of her husband and to hide her shame she stares into the ashes of the fireplace. She often replies with,“Ireland can kiss my arse.” And then asks him if there’s any money left for food for the children to eat. There never is...
After a while they move house and Frank and his brother Malachy go to a public school. The house is not any better than their former house. The community lavatory is just outside their front door and people come there every day to empty their buckets. You can imagine how it would smell like in the summer. When it rains the whole ground floor gets flooded. When this happens or the stench becomes unbearable the family hides upstairs. The second floor is what they call ‘Italy’, because it is warm and dry there. So when visitors ask the young boys where their parents are, they often say, “They’re in Italy.”
School is not any better for Frank. He hates school. Not because he is the only poor boy, because the rest is equally poor, but because he feels that school is useless. School does not bring any money home and it certainly does not support his poor mother and his younger brothers.
Frank is a very sickly boy and he has to visit the hospital regularly. The last time he nearly succumbs to typhoid fever. This, however, is the first time he ever had a good meal. It is also a painful memory for him, because his father cried when he visited Frank. Frank as a child misunderstood why his father was crying and he felt that he had let his father down.
Then at one point the Irish get new opportunities. Because of the WWII the Irish men can get jobs in England in factories. The Irish, however, despise the England and their posh behaviour, but they see it as their last resort. His father leaves for England, but he never sent any money, leaving Angela to beg for money. Frank’s responsibility kicks in and he first gets a job as a coal hauler then as a telegram boy. Every penny he earns he gives to his mother and youngest brother. At that time Malachy left to join the army.
But the dream of ever going to America and becoming successful pulls at him and eventually becomes unbearable. Then he has to make a huge decision: taking care of his family or for once being selfish and follow his dream. He chooses to follow his dream...
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