Angelas Ashes: Analysis
analytical Essay
618 words
It is a common view that times for the Irish majority in the 1930's and 40's were very hard. Especially for the Irish Catholic families with the stereotypical drunken father, emotionally wrecked mother, kids running round her with her sore back from the next child ready too be born. In Angela's Ashes, Mc Court examines his childhood experiences, the tragedies, hardships, learning, all involved with growing up.One of the most interesting aspects of the writing in Angela's Ashes is how the text is written, from Mc Courts interpretation of the situation at his age he was at the time, the spelling and grammar also indicates that the child is writing, not the adult. This contributes immensely to the emotions and enjoyment evoked from reading the book. It also better describes how a child actually sees the things going around them, and what they may be thinking. Personally, sometimes is made me think for a while about how I interpreted things I saw when I was that age, and the fun I had being a 'kid' with my sister.McCourt describes his brothers and sister, even the ones that died and how much he enjoyed growing up with them, how they cared and loved for each other.
Because of the appalling quarters they lived in and the lack of money and food there was terminal illnesses in the family which proved fatal to some of his siblings. Mc Court in his 'child-like' writing style describes how his siblings and he, interpret what's happened and how they see their parents reacting. Mc Court also analyses how his younger brother Malachy looks up to him and how much he takes Malachy under his 'wing' and takes care of him. Parenting is said to be one of the hardest tasks out there today, especially sole-parenting.
Mc Court carefully examines his mother, how she copes with her drunken betrothed, how her cousins who married 'gentlemen' are constantly try to run her life, and how she acts as a woman. His father, the 'Irish drunk' who is constantly making him and his brother swear their lives for Ireland and singing Roddy Mc Corley and Kevin Barry after a night at the pub. How his father will tell him stories about old Irish folklore and get sacked from job after job.As Frank progresses into adolescence, he explores the feelings and changes he goes through.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how mc court examines his childhood experiences, the tragedies, hardships, learning, all involved with growing up.
- Analyzes how mc court describes how his siblings interpret what's happened and how they see their parents reacting.
- Analyzes how mc court examines his mother, how she copes with her drunken betrothed, and how her cousins who married 'gentlemen' are constantly trying to run her life.
- Opines that the 'child-like' writing style makes the book enjoyable and can make the reader laugh or cry at the child's interpretation of the situation.
Related
- analytical
- argumentative
- Angelas Ashesanalytical essay"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable child hood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood Is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood", writes Frank McCourt of his early life. Although Frank McCourt's autobiography, Angela's Ashes, paints a picture of both terrible poverty and struggles, this text is appealing and up lifting because of its focus on both humor and hope. McCourt's text shows the determination people living in dreadful conditions must have in order to rise above their situations and make better lives for themselves and their families. The effect of the story, although often distressing and sad, is not depressing. Frank as the young narrator describes his life events without bitterness, anger, or blame. Poverty and hardship are treated simply as if they are a fact of life, and in spite of the hard circumstances, many episodes during the novel are hilarious.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that angela's ashes is not a tragic memoir, but up lifting, funny, and at times triumphant.
- Analyzes how frank mccourt's autobiography, angela’s ashes, paints a picture of both terrible poverty and struggles, but it is appealing and up lifting because of its focus on both humor and hope.
- Explains that frank mccourt was born in brooklyn in 1930, just after the beginning of the great depression. his father struggled to obtain work and lost it easily due to his alcoholism.
- Analyzes how mccourt's picture of brooklyn is cruelly miserable, with moments of gentle humor and irony in the first few chapters of the text.
- Describes how malachy mccourt's family lived in a succession of substandard flats and houses characterized by poor sanitation and lack of electricity. he was discriminated against because of his northern name and accent.
- Analyzes how humor derived from religious practices such as taking the wafer at mass, and the children's sins were also sources of humor for the priests. poverty reduced the family to other slapstick situations.
- Analyzes how frank is evicted from the public library for reading a book about sex left on the table. he really wanted to read butlers life of the saints but was enticed by the book that shocked the librarian.
- Analyzes how frank promised to support his family and dreamed of returning to america. his father encouraged him to get a good job in the land of opportunity.
- Explains that mccourt's hope of a better future was shared by his father, brother malachy, and uncle pa sheehan, but it was frank that had the determination to work at any job available and to save money even if his family starved.
- Analyzes how angela's ashes depicts unrelenting poverty and the terrible consequences for individuals living in dirtiness. frank mccourt shows that there is humor in life, no matter how desperate the situation is.
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- Analyzes how angela's ashes is a moving book full of poverty, suffering, and death that shows that no matter how difficult things seem, hard tines can always be overcome.
- Analyzes how frank grew up in the worst environment possible but was determined enough to get himself to america and become of a pulitzer prize winning novel.
- Analyzes mccourt's use of apostrophe, imagery, and humor throughout the book.
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In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how angela, the mother of frank mccourt, is an antagonist. she blames malachy sr. for all of their problems.
- Explains that malachy mccourt sr. was an alcoholic and couldn't keep a job to support his family. he drinks excessively to cope with the pain of his children's deaths.
- Analyzes how the catholic church played a major role in frank's guilt. frank struggled throughout his childhood with sexual thoughts and constantly felt as though his thoughts were sinful because of his catholic upbringing.
- Analyzes how poverty and hunger serve as antagonists because the memoir takes place during the great depression. the mccourt family lived in poor and life-threatening conditions.
- Analyzes how the mcnamara sisters aren't concerned about the well-being of the kids or angela, but about how their destitution affects them and their social status.
- Explains that tough life experiences can teach a person many things about themselves and all of the things they can overcome. frank mccourt never gave up and kept on striving to achieve his goal.
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