Angela’s Ashes, by Frank McCourt, was written in the 1990’s but reflects
life in Ireland during the Depression. Frank McCourt, the novel’s protagonist, was fortunate to be born in America, but his family faced many difficulties due to the economic crisis. Ultimately, they decided to find support back in Ireland. What they found in there, however, instead of help, was more economic struggles and many families in the same desperate situation as them; with limited room for living, scarce amounts of food, and hardly any money. It was hard for the McCourts to raise their children as Irish Catholics because they were often exposed to the stereotype of 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 McCourt family experienced was often the lack of money. Frank’s father would often drink away the dole money shortly after receiving his paycheck. Malachy McCourt’s actions kept his family living in poverty. The deaths of his three-year-old twin sons and his infant daughter due to illness (that could have been prevented with ordinary medications), and the fact that he enjoyed drinking, lead him to the pubs of Limerick to release his anger and dull his pain. Poverty in any circumstance is an unfortunate situation, but seeing the supposed head of the household squander away the little earnings he makes is revolting. Alcoholism is a disease, and Frank’s father doesn’t even seem to try and fight it. Because of his father’s lack of responsibility, Frank had to work as a telegram boy, giving part of his earnings to his family and saving the rest of it to move to America someday. He also found a job delivering coal with Mr. Hannon, his next-door neighbour. The labour makes Frank feel like 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 his father’s footsteps because of the burdens he often put upon his son’s shoulders. Frank’s self awareness of his father is uplifting because there are many children of people who are alcoholics, abusers or criminals that end up just like their parents. The fact that Frank realizes that his father is no good shows that he will make a conscious effort to change his future.
