"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: 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.” ( p. 1 )
These sentences at the beginning of Angela`s Ashes summarize very briefly what this novel is about: the survival of a miserable Irish Catholic childhood.
Indeed this childhood was shaped by a strict religious upbringing, by poverty and starvation, humiliating experiences, diseases and even death. So what does make this story an exception worth to be read?
It obviously must have to do something with "survival".
How come the hero of this story did not go mad like one of his classmate’s mother who had regularly been carried to the lunatic asylum? How come he did not resign like his mother permanently desperate over their miserable situation? Why did he not become like his father and many other Irish men described in the book, drinking their wages and singing sad songs about brave soldiers ready to die for Ireland?
Was he just lucky or where there any special factors which enabled him to come through the first 19 years of his life? What are the reasons for his pure physical but also mental survival?
In this essay I am trying to find possible answers to all the questions raised above by analysing Frank`s relationship to his family, especially to his father and mother, and to other people who played an important role in his life.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I. Introduction
- II. Author and background
- III. The father
- III.1. Characterization of Frank's father
- III.2. Frank`s relationship to his father
- III.3. His father's influence on his life
- IV. The mother
- IV.1. Characterization of Frank's mother
- IV.2. Frank`s relationship to his mother and her influence on his life
- V. Other important people
- V.1. Uncle Pa Keating
- V.2. Mr. O'Halloran
- V. Frank's brothers and friends
- VI. Conclusion
- VII. References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the factors that contributed to Frank McCourt's survival in his miserable Irish Catholic childhood, as described in his memoir, "Angela's Ashes." Through an analysis of his relationships with his family and other significant figures, the essay seeks to understand how these individuals and the larger social and cultural context shaped his resilience and eventual success. Key themes examined in the essay include:- The impact of poverty and deprivation on childhood development
- The role of family dynamics in shaping individual experiences
- The influence of cultural and religious beliefs on daily life
- The importance of personal resilience and determination in overcoming adversity
- The power of storytelling and memory in shaping individual identity
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction provides a succinct overview of the novel's premise: exploring Frank McCourt's survival in a difficult childhood shaped by poverty, religion, and Irish Catholic culture. It highlights the book's focus on "survival" as a key theme, exploring the question of how Frank navigates hardship and endures challenges that would have broken others. Chapter II delves into the author's background, tracing the origins of the McCourt family's struggles. It introduces Malachy and Angela McCourt, Irish immigrants who find themselves facing hardship in New York during the Prohibition era. Their marriage and subsequent return to Ireland set the stage for Frank's childhood experiences. Chapter III focuses on Frank's relationship with his father, Malachy. It examines the father's characterization, including his struggles with alcoholism and unemployment, and explores how these factors impact Frank's upbringing. This chapter analyzes the complex and often strained relationship between father and son, highlighting the father's influence on Frank's life. Chapter IV explores Frank's relationship with his mother, Angela. It analyzes her characterization, showcasing her resilience and struggles to provide for her family in the face of poverty and hardship. This chapter examines the influence of Angela's love and determination on Frank's survival and development. Chapter V expands beyond the immediate family to explore the impact of other significant individuals on Frank's life. It examines the roles of Uncle Pa Keating and Mr. O'Halloran, as well as the influence of Frank's brothers and friends. This chapter explores how these relationships contribute to Frank's experiences and his overall development.Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in "Angela's Ashes" include Irish Catholic childhood, poverty, family dynamics, resilience, survival, cultural identity, and the power of storytelling. The essay focuses on analyzing the role of family, cultural context, and individual experiences in shaping Frank McCourt's life and his ability to overcome adversity.- Quote paper
- Diplomübersetzerin Helena Schneider (Author), 2002, "Survival factors" in Frank McCourt´s "Angela´s Ashes", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/56514
