Explore the presentation of the theme of religion in "Angela's Ashes"

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Marija Pecar 11SM

Explore the presentation of the theme of religion in “Angela’s Ashes”

        Throughout the novel, religion is presented as being of extreme importance in Irish society, influencing the beliefs and actions of the characters. I will attempt to highlight the several factors which I believe make up the presentation of religion in “Angela’s Ashes”.  

        From the beginning of the book, religion is said to make up a large part of the unhappy childhood Frank suffered. The following quote shows the extent of Frank’s sentiments:

“Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood, is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood”

The quote above portrays the crescendo of negative emotion, describing the worse possible scenario of a childhood, adding finally “Catholic” to signify the most terrible part of the childhood Frank suffered. This indicates that religion played an important role in a person’s life and in the society presented by the book. A person’s life was structured to follow the ideals of their religion. From the tone of the quote however, I am led to believe that according to Frank, being a Catholic lead to suffering in life and that therefore, religion guided lives. What is shown later in the book is that the misery Frank refers to is not only poverty and living standards, but the Catholic way of life, restricting freedom and opportunity in life.

Regardless of the fact that religion could be blamed for an array of problems in the lives of the characters, Catholicism is presented as an extremely important part of life in Ireland. Many, such as Frank’s grandmother, consider it to be an institution with all answers to life; an institution that needs to be followed in order to achieve a greater good in life, and ultimately reach heaven. The perceived importance of religion is shown by the following quote:

“The  [MacNamara] sisters knew what was right and they knew what was wrong and any doubts could be resolved by the One, Holy, Roman, Catholic and Apostolic Church”

The rigid structure of Catholicism is portrayed here, indicating that religion was a regime people in Ireland had to follow in order to be accepted in society as “good Christians”. The Roman Catholic Church is presented as an institution of knowledge and power, influencing the lives of the people. The clear boundaries in catholic society are presented here, by the “right and wrong”, indicating that there was little variation in beliefs and practice in those following Catholicism.

However, even though religion is presented as an important part of life, determining people’s decisions and behaviour, it is also presented as something which is taught, rather than followed willingly, indicating that while children, such as Frank, may have no wish to become “good Catholics”, they were forced to do so by society; their parents and teachers. Frank presents the attitude towards religion in school through the following quote, telling the children to:

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“Know and remember all the questions and answers in catechism, became good Catholics, to know the difference between right and wrong, to die for the Faith if called on”

        The way in which this quote is recited indicates that while Frank may learn all aspects of religion, he does so without any appreciation or understanding, therefore indicating that it was an obligatory part of life and that few people took an interest in what it represented. Further into the book Frank once again recites the ideas, which he was forced to learn, shown by the quote:

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