English Summer Reading

"Angela's Ashes" Written response # 3

"Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt is a memoir of his experiences growing up in Ireland in the 1930's, after emigrating from America where he was born. Throughout his childhood, Frank suffered from lack of food and unhealthy living conditions as well as the loss of three of his siblings. His father was an alcoholic and many times did not bring home the wages he earned because he had already used it at the pub. After a few years, because the war in England was the only way he could get a job, his father left the family and although he did come back a couple times, he eventually didn't return. When Frank was old enough he began working, first at shoveling coal and later as a telegram boy and also writing threatening letters to tenants for a local landlady. Although Frank suffered many hardships, he rose above them to move back to America when he was old enough, and had earned enough money to pay for his fare. He eventually became a teacher. Frank used what little opportunity he had for an education in Ireland and became good at school, especially writing, which was a skill that helped him to get a job and also proved useful in his future career. The hardest part of his young life was losing many of his loved ones. Frank's baby sister Margaret died which made both of his parents heartbroken over the loss of their only daughter and unable to properly care for the family. When his younger brother Oliver died, Oliver's twin brother Eugene could not take the separation and died of a broken heart, after not being able to eat.

Frank went to a Catholic school until he was 14 years old and "grown up". He was taught to fear God and that sinning was wrong. He was very smart and did very well in his studies, but was refused a further education when he and his mother requested to the church that he continued his studies. What he learned in writing helped him get a job for Mrs. Finucane, writing letters for her. When he moved to America, he was able to become a teacher and support himself.

Many children do not realize what it's like to lose a loved one so early in life, and these losses were sharp in Frank McCourt's memory many years later when he wrote this book. In addition to his brothers and sister dying, the little girl who he made friends with in the hospital when he was sick, also passed away. And the first girl he ever loved was sick with Tuberculosis and he was very distraught that she may have not gone to heaven because they had sinned. He went to a priest to consult him on this matter and after hearing just a few of the hardships he had faced the priest relieved his young mind saying surely Theresa went to heaven and was forgiven.

Frank experienced many struggles in his young life, and "Angela's Ashes" brings the point of view of an innocent child to light. He didn't choose to be in that position and his parents, even though they were sometimes incapable of taking care of him and his brothers, controlled the family's future until the boys were old enough to take care of themselves. It's inspiring that Frank grew up to overcome his conflicts and lead a productive life, when many children who grew up in the same environment did not survive to adulthood because of disease, or chose to drink and not have a positive lifestyle. Frank's story could help others who do not have ideal circumstances to know that they can rise above them if they work and believe in themselves.