AN ANALYSIS OF FRANK’S STRUGGLE FOR LIFE AS SEEN IN MCCOURT’S ANGELA’S ASHES: A MEMOIR OF A CHILDHOOD
A Thesis
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree
of English Language Education
By:
Sunny Eclipsia Leatemia Student Number: 011214095
ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION
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STATEMENT OF WORKS’ ORGINALITY
I honestly declare that this thesis which I wrote does not contain the works or part of the works of other people except those cited in the quotations and bibliography, as a scientific paper should.
Yogyakarta, 30 June 2007 The writer
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Be Thou M y V ision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight; Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower: Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
(Eleanor H. Hull, 1912 an Ancient Irish Folklore)
I DEDICATED THIS THESIS TO:
My beloved Papa Anis, Mutti Metty,
My brothers Eci, Ray,
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Above all and beyond everything that I have in this world, I would like to give my deepest gratitude to the only saviour of my life JESUS CHRIST for all His blessing, guidance and never ending love.
I also would like to give my gratitude to my major sponsor Drs. L. Bambang Hendarto Y., M.Hum, for all his wisdom, kindness, patient and support to guide me and willing to spent his precious time to help me to finish my thesis. I also would like to thank Sr. MargaretO’Donohue FCJ who has been very kind to correct my grammar. I appreciate the time that she has spent for me.
My next gratitude is for all lecturers of English Education Study Program for guiding and sharing their knowledge during my study in Sanata Dharma University, for all English Education Study Program secretariat staff and Sanata Dharma library staff for their assistance, friendliness and best services.
My grateful dedication is conveyed to my beloved family Papa Anis and Mutti Metty for the support, never ending prayers and unconditional love. For my dear brothers Bung Eci, and Bung Ray and my dear sister Zus Dina and her husband Bung Peter, I thank them for their love, support and understanding. For my God Parents, Pa’ani Agus and Ma’ani Tiny, thank you for everything that you have taught and given me. Love and lesson that really worth for my life and thank you for being my God Parents since everyone envy me to have both of you in my life. For my niece Alvie, my nephews Nuel, and Rinto, I love you all and I’m blessed to have the most loving family in this world.
I would like to thank my best friends, Lia, Nana, “Rabbit”, Ita, Santi, Ale, Henry, Catur, Herp, Piet, Nucee, Ukhe, Michael for the love, support, happiness, beautiful moments, crazy things that you have spent and shared with me.
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Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in PMI Chapter Jogjakarta for the precious moments, experiences, many beneficial lessons of life and have allowed me to help all of you in your duty and be part of it. Thank you for teaching me with the knowledge of Red Cross and make me fall in love with the world of Red Cross. For all the people whom I love, may God bless them all and keep them all with His Almighty Hands.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE ...……... i
APPROVAL PAGE ...……... ii
PAGE OF ACCEPTANCE ...……... iii
STATEMENT OF WORK ORIGINALITY ...……... iv
PAGE OF DEDICATION ...……...… v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...…...…. vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS ...…...…. viii
ABSTRACT ...…...… xi
ABSTRAK ...…...… xii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION A. Background of the Study ...……... 1
B. Problem Formulation ...……... 3
C. Objectives of the Study ...……... 3
D. Benefits of the Study ...……... 4
E. Definition of Terms ...……... 4
CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE A. Review of Related Theories ...……... 6
ix
2. Character ...……... 7
a. Meaning ...……... 7
b. Kinds ...……... 8
3. Characterization ...……... 9
a. Meaning ...…... 9
b. Ways of Characterization ...……... 10
4. Motivation ...……....…. 12
a. Meaning ...……...… 12
5. Human Basic Needs ...……...… 14
6. Struggle for Life ...……...… 16
B. Criticism ...……...… 18
C. Theoretical Framework ...……...… 19
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY A. Subject Matter ...……... 21
B. Approach ...……... 22
C. Procedures ...……... 23
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS A. The Description of Frank McCourt ...……...… 25
1. Odd ...……...… 26
2. Kind-hearted ...……... 28
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4. Caring ...……....…. 34
5. Hard Working ...……...… 39
6. Smart ...……… 41
B. Frank’s Struggle for a Better Life……….. 43
1. The Causes of Frank Struggle for Life ...……....… 44
a. His Father Drinking Habit ...……... 44
b. The Family’s Economic Condition ... …...…. 47
c. The Society’s Treatment toward Frank’s Family …...…. 51
2. Frank’s Struggle ...……...…. 53
a. Finding good jobs ...……...…. 54
b. Giving a better life to his family ...……...…. 57
c. Going to America ...……...…. 61
CHAPTER V CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS A. Conclusions ...……... 64
B. Suggestions ...……... 66
1. Suggestion for future researchers ...……... 66
2. Suggestion for teaching- learning activities ... 66
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 69
APPENDICES ... 72
A. Summary of the novel ... 73
B. Biography of the author ... 75
C. Lesson Plan for Teaching Speaking ... 77
xi ABSTRACT
Leatemia, Sunny Eclipsia. 2007. An Analysis of Frank’s Struggle for Life as Seen in McCourt’ Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Yogyakarta: English Education Study Program, Department of Language and Arts Education, Faculty of Teacher Trainings and Education, Sanata Dharma University.
Every person lives with problems that emerge in their life. Some of the problems are easy to solve but some others are not. People cannot avoid the problems and therefore they need to struggle for life, in order to solve the problems. In the novel by Frank McCourt entitled Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood that talks about life; Frank the main character has to struggle for life because of the problems that emerge in his life. He has to live under poor and miserable conditions in a slum area in Limerick Ireland.
There are two problems to be discussed in this study related to the main character: (1) How is Frank, the main character, portrayed in the novel? (2) How does Frank manage to survive in his struggles for life?
The library research is the method that is used in this study where I use the novel as the primary data, books of literature and psychology and other sources from Internet. The approach used in this study is psychological approach since the study aims to analyse the main character.
Based on the analysis of the main character, there are two points that can be concluded. First, is the description of Frank. Frank is portrayed as kind-hearted, caring, honest, hard working and smart though he has the odd manner like his father that comes from Northern Ireland. The second deals with Frank’s struggle for life. He struggles for life because of his father’s drinking habit that grows serious, the family’s economic condition that is miserable and the society’s treatment toward Frank’s family. Frank manages to survive because of three reasons that motivate him. The first is finding good jobs, the second is giving a better life for his family and the last one is going to America. Finally, Frank is able to solve all the problems that made him struggle for life.
xii ABSTRAK
Leatemia, Sunny Eclipsia.2007. An Analysis of Frank’s Struggle for Life as Seen in McCourt’ Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa Inggris, Jurusan Pendidikan Bahasa dan Seni, Fakultas Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan, Universitas Sanata Dharma.
Setiap orang hidup dengan masalah yang muncul dalam kehidupan mereka. Beberapa masalah dapat dengan mudah diselesaikan akan tetapi ada masalah-masalah lain yang sukar untuk diselesaikan. Mereka tidak bisa menghindar dari masalah- masalah tersebut, maka dari itu mereka harus berjuang untuk hidup dalam rangka untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah yang ada. Dalam sebuah novel karya Frank McCourt yaitu Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood yang menceritakan tentang kehidupan, Frank, tokoh utama dalam novel ini harus berjuang untuk bertahan hidup karena masalah- masalah yang timbul dalam kehidupannya. Ia harus hidup dibawah tekanan kemiskinan dan kehidupan menyedihkan yang ia alami di daerah kumuh di Limerick, Irlandia.
Ada dua masalah yang dibahas dalam studi ini yang berhubungan dengan tokoh utama: (1) Bagaimana Frank, karakter utama dalam novel ini digambarkan? (2) Bagaimana Frank berusaha untuk bertahan dalam berjuang untuk hidup?
Metode yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah penelitian perpustakaan meliputi novel sebagai data utama, buku-buku mengenai literatur dan psikologi dan juga data dari internet. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam studi ini adalah pendekatan psikologi karena studi ini mengenai karakter utama dalam novel.
Berdasarkan analisis terhadap tokoh utama, terdapat dua hal yang bisa disimpulkan. Pertama adalah penggambaran tokoh Frank. Frank digambarkan sebagai seorang yang baik hati, penyayang, jujur, pekerja keras, dan pintar walaupun ia memiliki tingkah laku yang aneh seperti ayahnya yang berasal dari Irlandia Utara. Kedua adalah penyebab Frank berjuang untuk hidup. Ia harus berjuang untuk hidup karena sifat ayahnya yang suka minum yang bertambah parah, keadaan ekonomi keluarganya yang miskin dan menyedihkan dan perlakuan masyarakat terhadap keluarganya. Frank berusaha untuk bertahan hidup karena ia termotivasi oleh tiga hal. Pertama, Frank berusaha untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan yang bagus, yang kedua adalah berusaha memberikan kehidupan yang lebih baik untuk keluarganya dan yang terakhir adalah pergi ke Amerika. Pada akhirnya, Frank mampu menyelesaikan semua permasalahan yang membuatnya harus berjuang untuk hidup.
1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents background of the study, problem formulation, objectives of the study, benefits of the study and the definition of terms. The background of the study provides the information of the topic and the reason that become the basis of writing this thesis. The problem formulation states the problem or questions of the study. The objectives of the study aim to answer the questions stated in the problem formulation. The benefits of the study explain the advantages and importance of the study. Finally, the definition of terms provides an explanation of some important terms used in the study.
A. Background of the Study
All human beings in this world live their own life differently. Some of them may have a beautiful life and some of them may not have it. Though they live their life normally, problems may come everyday. Moreover, they cannot avoid the problems and therefore they will try hard to face and overcome them until they win the battle of struggle for life and achieve a better life in the future.
own experience with his readers through his works.
Since a work of literature is about reflection of life experiences, an author uses one of the media in literature called novel. Novel is the most common media that is used to reflect human life experience since the novel presents life itself. Van De Laar and Schoenderwoend say, “a novel as a work of art so far it introduces as into a living world; in some respect resembling the world we live in, but with an individuality of its own” (63). Through novels, many authors present stories about life because they can give support, strengt h, and reflection of struggle for life for the readers.
One of the authors who presents his life experiences in his works is Frank McCourt. He has had experiences of human struggle and he applies his experiences in his novel. His novel entitled Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood talks about life and how a man struggles for life and survives. Besides, it also describes human experiences that can happen to everyone in this world.
for three months and he has to loose his job. He, then, has to start to find another job and must be more determined than ever so that he can help his mother and his brothers though it means that he has to start from the bottom line.
In this story, Frank faces many problems. First, his father drinking habit that grows serious even after the family moves to Ireland. Second, his family’s economic condition that is poor and miserable. Third, the society’s treatment toward his family that is rude. Frank has to struggle for life because many conflicts appear continuously in his life.
The novel is interesting to discuss because it shows how a person has to struggle for life in order to achieve a better one. We can also learn many lessons for life from this novel.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of the study, there are two problems that can be formulated as follows:
1. How is Frank, the main character, portrayed in the novel? 2. How does Frank manage to survive in his struggle for life?
C. Objectives of the Study
D. Benefits of the Study
There are some benefits of this study. Firstly, I hope that this study will be useful for readers in broadening their knowledge about life as well as about literature, especially the knowledge of Irish-American writers and their works.
Secondly, for future researchers who intend to conduct the study of the same novel, I hope that this study can provide information on Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood and also offer some beneficial information about the main character, the causes of the struggle for life and how he manages to survive. Hopefully, this thesis can be a start for further studies on Frank McCourt and his works. Finally, for myself, by studying this novel I learn about life and how each person has to survive for life in every condition.
E. Definition of Study
This part clarifies some important terms in order to avoid misunderstanding about the content of the thesis.
1. Struggle
In Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary struggle means to proceed with difficulty of with great effort (1167).
2. Life
live where it becomes the experience of being alive. 3. Motivation
Morris defines that motives are “an inner direct force of a need or want that arouses the organism and directs behaviour toward a goal” (408). So it means that a motive is a power that enables someone to fulfil or reach his goal.
4. Character
CHAPTER II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter discusses theories that support the analysis of the thesis. In order to understand theories underlying this thesis, I divide this chapter into three parts. The first part is review of related theories. The second part of this chapter states criticisms that will cover the critics on McCourt’s work, while the last part of the chapter is theoretical framework.
A. Review of Related Theories
The content of this part concerns all the theories relating to the study. The theories that I use are critical approaches, character, characterization, motivation, human basic needs and struggle for life.
1. Critical Approaches
Rorhberger and Woods Jr. (6-15) propose five approaches that can be used to analyse the novel, namely the formalist approach, the biography approach, the sociocultural approach, the mythopoeic approach and the psychological approach.
a. The Formalist Approach
The focus of this approach is on the literary object and the esthetic value of the novel. The approach itself makes no attempt to focus on the author’s life and the sociocultural background in which the literary takes place.
b. The Biography Approach
that become the major element in the author’s work.
c. The Sociocultural Approach
The focus of this approach is to analyse the no vel reference to the civilization that produces the novel. The civilization is defined as the attitudes and actions of a specific group of people. Meanwhile, a novel takes those attitudes and action as it subject matter. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the social milieu, the cultural and historical background in which a novel is created.
d. The Mythopoeic Approach
The focus of this approach is to discover certain universally recurrent pattern of human thought. These patterns are considered to have shared the universally common belief toward certain community mind.
e. The Psychological Approach
The main concern of this approach is to identify any aspects of psychology that underlie a certain element of literary works. The element particularly points up the character in the story. In this case, theory of psychology is meant to explain the character’s personality, where it comes from, the idea that each character’s behaviour could be referred to the psychology of human being. Thus this approach can be used to understand the character’s behaviour and thought.
2. Character
There are several ways to know about characters by defining the character from the meaning and the kinds of characters.
Since there are many interpretations of the word “character”, Stanton (17) defines two meanings of character. The first is that characters are the “individuals” who appear in the story. Meanwhile, the second definition is “a mixture of interests, desires, emotions and moral principles that makes up each of the individuals.” Thus, character can be defined as the individual who appears in the story that has the mixture of interest, desires, emotion and moral principles.
However, Abrams (20-21) defines the word “character” based on the performance of the character. The first definition of character is a short and usually witty, sketch in prose of a distinctive type of person. The second definition of character that Abrams proposes is that characters are the persons presented in a dramatic narrative work, who are interpreted by the reader as being endowed with moral and dispositional qualities that are expressed in the dialogue and action. So, from both definitions of character proposed by Abrams, character is a distinctive type of person that is presented in a dramatic narrative work and interpreted with moral and dispositional qualities.
b. Kinds
Furthermore, Holman and Harmon divide character into two namely static and dynamic. A static character is one who changes little or does not change at all, because there is nothing happening within. It means that a character begins as the same kind of character as in the end. A dynamic character is one who is modified by actions and experiences that influence the character to change. That is why a dynamic character is one who often changes (83).
Based on the aspect of importance, Henkle (88-97) categorizes character into major and minor character. A major character is the centre of the story. A major character is the most important and complex character in the story. Usually he/she can be identified through the complexity of his/her characterization and the attention given to them by the other character. Thus, a major character deserves the fullest attention since she or he performs a key structural function where upon he/she builds expectations and desires, which in modification establish our values. Whereas, minor characters are the characters that perform a more limited function. They just appear in a certain setting, less sophisticated and drawn in shallower relief and usually they jus t become the background of the major character.
3. Characterization
This part will discuss the theory of characterization, which is used in order to analyse the character in the novel. This part also divided into two, the first is the meaning of characterization while the second is concern on ways of characterization. In order to analyse the character in the novel, we can use Murphy’s theory on nine ways of characterization.
Holman and Harmon (81) define characterization as the creation of an imaginary person. The aim that lies beneath the creation is to make the imaginary person exist for the readers or audiences as lifelike or seen as real. In addition, Rohrberger and Woods Jr. (20) say that characterization is a process applied by an author to create a character. Thus, characterization can be defined as the process to create an imaginary person as lifelike so that the readers are able to accept him as real person.
b. Ways characterization
Related to characterizatio n of character, Murphy (161-173) mentions nine elements that can be used to determine the characteristics of a character. The description of each element is as follows:
1) Personal description
The author can describe a person from his appearance and clothes. 2) Character as seen by another
Instead of describing a character directly, the author can describe a character through the eyes and opinions of another.
3) Speech
The author can give us an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what that person says.
4) Past life
The author can also give us clues to a person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him.
6) Reactions
The author can also give us a clue to a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events.
7) Direct comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. 8) Thoughts
The author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. 9) Mannerisms
The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies, which may also tell us something about his character.
As it is stated before that characterization is the creation of imaginary person that has to exist for the reader as lifelike, there are other methods of characterization that is proposed by Holman and Harmon theory (81). The first method is the explicit presentation by the author of the character through direct explanation either in an introductory block or illustrated by action. The second is the presentation of the character in action with the expectation that the reader will be able to conclude the attributes of the actor from the actions. The last is the presentation from within character, without comment on the character by the author, with the expectation that the reader will come to a clear understanding of the attributes of the character.
character can be seen. The first is what the character (the figure) says. It means that the words that the character expresses through his opinion and dialogue which can be a clue for the reader in order to know his/her characteristics. The second is what the character does. This refers to the action (movement, body language, gestures) of the character that can be used to analyse the characteristics of the character. The third is what the other characters (including the narrator of the story) say about him. It also includes the comments and opinions of other characters through a dialogue that can be used to analyse the character. The last one is what other characters do and the description of the actions of other people toward a character whether they like the character or not and how they behave toward him.
4. Motivation
This section concerns the theory of motivation where it explains the definition of motivation given by the psychologists. The motivation theory is also used to investigate the main character through the psychological aspects.
a. Meaning
the temporary determinants of choice (direction), persistence, and vigour of goal-directed behaviour (Beck 24). In other words, Beck tries to explain that motivation is a determinant that causes a person to do something continually based on the aim to achieve.
Another definition of motivation is given by Morris. Morris (408) states that motivation is “a specific need, desire, or want such as hunger, thirst, or achievement, that energizes and direct goal-oriented behaviour”. It means that motivation makes human beings continually do their specific need and desire in order to achieve their goal.
Furthermore, some of the psychologists explain motivation as a determinant of choices, whereas others convey it as a specific desire, while Jung (4) claims that, “When we speak motives we are referring to the causes or reasons that underlie a given behaviour”. For example a man is motivated to save his money so that he can buy a car. Therefore, we cannot concentrate on motivation only when we discuss it, because we also need to know what causes someone to do the action.
human behaviour is motivated, even if the person is not necessarily aware of his motives at the time of behaviour.
To sum up, motivation is a forcing power of a specific desire, need, or want that is conducted by some purposes and becomes the reason for a person to do the action that leads to a goal. Besides, through motivation a person is able to achieve his goal with satisfactory feelings.
5. Human Basic Needs
When people do some actions, they are motivated by the need to fulfil those actions. Maslow (47) says that “man is initially motivated by a series of basic needs; as those are satisfied, he moves toward the level of the higher needs and become motivated by them”. It means that human motivations are based on human needs. Maslow also proposes seven basic needs but only five needs are reviewed in the study.
The needs are the physiological needs, the safety needs, the belongingness and love needs, the esteem needs, and the self-actualization needs (Maslow 38-42). These five basic needs are also known as the hierarchy of human needs. He argues that usually the lowest need of the hierarchy has to be satisfied first before the higher needs on the hierarchy are satisfied.
The explanation of each need is as follows: 1) The Physiological Needs
the other needs until the need for food is fulfilled. In order to survive in life, of course, the needs that we should fulfil first are the physiological needs (Maslow 38).
2) The Safety Needs
After the physiological needs are sufficiently satisfied, the safety needs emerge. They emerge because of the needs to feel secure, stable, independent, protected, free from fear, anxiety and chaos. Someone will feel that other higher needs become unimportant when his life is in danger. A man needs the security and protection from anything that is considered as being harmful. He also needs a peaceful society, familiar surrounding, secure jobs and some of the evidence of the needs for safety (Maslow 39).
3) The Belongingness and Love Needs
When the two needs of physiological and safety are satisfied there will emerge the belonging and love needs. After a person fulfils the physiological and safety needs, now he will find the absence of friends, a sweetheart, a wife, or children. He will seek for affectionate relations with people in general, for a place in his group or family or a feeling that one “belongs” and he will strive with great intensity to achieve his goal. The love needs require both the receiving and giving of love- love from another and someone to love (Maslow 40).
4) The Esteem Needs
feels self confident and valuable as a person in the world. Unfortunately, if these needs are frustrated, the person feels inferior, weak, helpless and worthless (Maslow 42).
5) The Self-actualization Needs
The self-actualization needs emerge after all of the foregoing needs are satisfied. Self-actualization is a person’s need to be and do that which the person was “born to do”. It is also the identification of the psychological need for growth, development and utilization of always know what are he desire but when it comes to the self-actualization it is not always clear what a person wants in his life (Maslow 42).
All the basic needs mentioned above are important but it depends on each person on how he or she is able to fulfil it. Each person will experience a different process in fulfilling their needs and those needs may appear not as described. Maslow states that the process of needs may not work based on the theory since most people have been able to fulfil most of their basic needs. For example, nowadays a lot of people choose to find a secure job first in order to fulfil their basic needs such as food and shelter. It can be assumed that we cannot guaranty that the physiological needs will appear first. On the contrary the safety needs may appear first and then proceeds to the physiological needs or other needs (qtd. in Huitt 2001).
6. Struggle for Life
solve. In order to overcome the problem, people need to struggle. In Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary (1167) struggle means to proceed with difficulty or with great effort. People need to struggle because of events that happen in their life, when these events change their life and become their problem that they need to solve them. Braun, Linder, and Asimov (478-80), state that there are many life events that cause people to struggle for life. These life events can be the death of a close family member, personal injury or illness, fired from work, gain of new family member, etc. People will react differently toward the life events in their life if they are unable to cope with it. When people cannot cope with these life events that happen in their life, they will become stressed. Stress is one of the reactions that emerge if people are unable to overcome their problems. Because of stress, people then need to adjust.
B. Criticism
Abrams (35) states that criticism is the study that concerns defining, classifying, analysing and evaluating works of literature. In order to have a better understanding about what the literary works talk about, we absolutely need criticism from critics. Through the critics, the readers are not only able to have a better understanding inside the literary works as a reading material but also able to appreciate both the novel and the author.
Gordon, in the book review of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood says “ Frank McCourt story is a story of a survival and growth beyond all odds; it moves the readers to read and enjoy it because this book is written in a beautiful language” (McCourt 1997).
Alix Madrigal for San Francisco Chronicle states “Frank McCourt’s memoir is a joy to read because it serves his Irish childhood that poor and miserable where he combines it with funny moments and written in beautiful language” (Madrigal, sec.18).
love for his mother and brothers even hilarious that he is willing to sacrifice his childhood times to help his mother and work hard in order to gain some shillings to his mother so that they can buy some food to eat and clothes to wear on (Aull, sec.3).
Aull also states “The memoir of Frank McCourt is a wonderful memoir that is valuable to read because we can learn not only about the Irish culture that covers almost all element inside the story but also the human spirit that McCourt shows to us in order to struggle and survive in desperate condition” (Aull, sec.3).
C. Theoretical Framework
The approach and the theories that I have stated are used to help the analysis of the study. In this part, I would like to explain what approach and theories that are used and how they are applied in the analysis of the study.
The first aim of the analysis is to describe the character of Frank as the major character of the novel. In order to describe his characterization, I use the theory of character by Henkle about the differentiation of major character and minor character. In this study, it is used to reveal the characterization of Frank. Forster’s theory is also used to find out whether Frank’s characterization is flat or round.
that Murphy proposed. Those are personal description, character as seen by other, speech, reaction, direct comment, thoughts and mannerism.
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter is divided into three parts, namely the subject matter, the approach and procedures. The subject matter discusses the novel itself, Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood. The approach states the approach that is used in analyzing the novel and the main character. Meanwhile, procedures state the explanation on the steps of writing this thesis.
A. Subject Matter
The novel analysed in this study is entitled Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood that was written by Frank McCourt. The novel was published for the first time in 1996 by HarperCollinsPublishers London. The novel used in the study was published in 1997 by Flamingo, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. It consists of 425 pages and is divided into 18 chapters.
The novel Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood by Frank McCourt starts with the narration of Frank, the main character, about the reason why his family has to return to Limerick, Ireland. Frank is born in Brooklyn, New York in a great depression era from Irish immigrant parent s. His father is Malachy McCourt and his mother is Angela McCourt. With three younger brothers, Malachy Junior, the twins Eugene and Oliver and a younger sister named Margaret, Frank realizes that his family belongs to a poor family. The family lives in a poor condition, because Frank’s father never has steady jobs and he always spends his money in pubs, drinking, but on the other hand he is a loving father to his children. Angela,
Frank’s mother, is a housewife and she is so stressed as she has to raise four children but she has no money to give them enough and decent food and they never have proper clothes and diapers to wear.
Then they return to Limerick, Ireland where Angela’s mother lends them some money to rent a room and to buy daily needs such as food, coal and clothes because they cannot afford to buy it. In Limerick, Malachy McCourt is unable to find steady jobs because of his Northern Ireland accent and his serious drinking problem. All that he can do is to go to the Labour Exchange to sign for the dole every Friday where the dole money usually ends for the Irish pints. Their life becomes more miserable that makes Angela takes Frank and Malachy Jr. to St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Dispensary to take the charity tickets to buy food, coal and clothes. His family living in poor condition makes Frank have to struggle for life. He needs to grow up very quickly, to find a good job and keep on surviving so that he can help his mother and his brothers from starvation and poverty and be able to fulfil the daily needs.
B. Approach
dialogues in the novel. Moreover, this approach helps me to discover the struggle of Frank to face the problems that emerge in his life and how he manages to survive.
C. Procedures
In conducting this study, I followed several steps. The first step was choosing Frank McCourt’s novel Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhoodas the primary data. I was interested in the main character of the novel named Frank. He experiences a miserable childhood and he has to struggle for life in order to survive. Then, I read the novel several times in order to get a better understanding of the story. Since Frank’s character was interesting to analyse, and I determined and chose to analyse Frank’s struggle for life.
The second step was finding some theories and references from many books and from the Internet. These theories and references were related to the story and literature study and were used to analysed Frank’s characteris tics. Henkle’s theory of character, theory of characterization by Murphy, the psychological approach proposed by Rohrberger and Woods Jr. were several theories that were used to help the analysis.
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS
This chapter is divided into two parts. The first part is the answer of the description of Frank McCourt. The second part concerns with the struggle of Frank to survive for life.
A. The Description of Frank McCourt
In reading a novel, the readers usually focus their main attention on the characters that have many different types of characteristics. Characters become the most important element of a novel. Moreover, characters are the soul of a novel. There are two kinds of character according to Henkle (88-97) a major character and secondary character. The readers of a novel usually have the tendency to put their attention on the major character that serves as the centre of the story, who frequently appears, is complex and observed most often in the novel.
In the novel Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of a Childhood, the major character is Frank. Frank becomes the centre of the story. Based on the explanation about a major character by Henkle, Frank’s character is a character that most often appears in the story and he is observed most often in the novel because of his complexity. Furthermore, Frank’s character also can be considered as a round character. Forster (47) states that a round character is complex in temperament and motivation. A round character is also difficult to describe with any adequacy and tend to change from the beginning of the story until the end of the story. Frank’s character is round because his character changes through times and he has motivation to struggle for
life.
To analyse the characteristics of Frank McCourt, the theory of characterization by Murphy (161-73), which consists of the personal description, character seen by other, speech, past life, the figure’s reactions, direct comment, thought and mannerism are applied. However, only several are used to analyse and describe the characteristics of Frank McCourt. He is characterized as odd person, kind- hearted, honest, caring, hard working and smart.
1. Odd
In the novel, Frank McCourt is often described as a person who has an odd manner. His family from his mother side are those people who often say that he has the odd manner. They say that he has the odd manner because his father comes from Northern Ireland and he lives in the republic of Ireland where the majority of the people hate the Northern Ireland man.
Frank’s mother Angela says to her neighbour in New York, Mrs. Leibowitz that Frank has the odd manner when she compares him to his brother Malachy.
My mother tells Mrs. Leibowitz down the hall that Malachy is the happiest child in the world. She tells Mrs. Leibowitz down the hall; Frankie has the odd manner like his father (14).
Through the conversation between Angela and Mrs. Leibowitz, it can be seen that his own mother says that he has the odd manner like his father when her mother compares him to his brother Malachy Jr. His mother’s word makes him feel different from his brother and he wonders what the odd manner means.
Northern Ireland.
I’m about to give the money to the woman in the shop when my hand is slapped down and there’s Aunt Aggie, ragging. “Is this what you do, she says, on the day of your brother’s funeral?” “Gorgin’ yourself on sweets”. “And where’s that fathers of your?”
“He’s, he’s, in the pub”.
“Of course he’s in the pub”. “You out here stuffin’ yourself with sweets and him there gettin’ himself into staggerin’ condition the day your poor little brother goes to the graveyard”. She tells the shop woman, Just like his father, the same odd manner, the same oul’ northern jaw (91-92).
It can be seen that Aunt Aggie also considers Frank to have the same odd manner like his father. She hates Frank’s father because he comes from Northern Ireland.
Furthermore, his grandma torments him with her words on his First Communion Day. His grandma says that his hair is North of Ireland’s hair that he gets from his father.
“Come here till I comb your hair”, said grandma. “Look at that mop, it won’t lie down. “You didn’t get that hair from my side of the family”.
“That’s that North of Ireland hair you get from your father”. “That’s the kind of hair you see on Presbyterians”. “If your mother had married a proper decent Limerick man you wouldn’t have this standing up, North of Ireland Presbyterian hair” (142).
Again, Angela tells other people that her son Frank has the odd manner like her husband. It happens when she meets her old dance mate, Mr. Dennis Clohessy, the father of Frank’s best friend. She comes to the Clohessy’s house to pick Frank because he stays overnight there.
“...and thanks, Mrs. Clohessy, for having Frank here off the streets”. ‘Twas no trouble”, Mrs. McCourt. He’s quiet enough.
“Quiet enough”, says Mr. Clohessy, but he’s not the dancer his mother was. Mam says, ‘Tis hard to dance with one shoe, Dennis.
I know Angela, but you’d wonder he didn’t take it off. “Is he a bit strange?”
Ah, sometimes he has the odd manner like his father.
It clearly described in the novel that Frank has the same odd manner like his father that comes from the North just because he dances with one shoe. And it can be seen that Mr. Clohessy also has the same opinion like his mother toward men from Northern Ireland.
Aunt Aggie never stops tormenting him with her words because she never likes Frank’s father who is a Northern man when Frank has to stay with her because his mother is in the hospital suffering from pneumonia.
Aunt Aggie torments me all the time. She calls me scabby eyes. She says that I’m the spitting image of my father. I have the odd manner, I have the sneaky air of a Northern Presbyterian, I’ll probably grow up and build an altar to Oliver Cromwell himself, I’ll run off and marry an English tart and cover my house with pictures of the royal family (284).
Again aunt Aggie describes that Frank has the same characteristics as his father that will not change.
Based on his personal description, conversation of others and opinions of other characters, it can be concluded that Frank has an odd manner like his father.
2. Kind-hearted
Though his mother and his family often tell other people that he has the odd manner, Frank is also known as a kind- hearted person. He is willing to give a hand and helps the other people who need help though sometimes he knows that he cannot help them.
I wanted the raisin for myself but I saw Paddy Clohessy standing in the corner with no shoes and the room was freezing and he was shivering like a dog that had been kicked and I always feel sad over kicked dog so I walked over and gave Paddy the raisin because I didn’t know what else to do and all the boys yelled that I was a fool and a feckin’ eejit... Mr. Benson gave me a look and said nothing and Nellie Ahearn said, “You’re a great oul’ Yankee, Frank” (133-34).
This shows that Frank has a sincere heart to help Paddy because he feels sorry to see Paddy’s condition with no shoes and he is shivering. He thinks that it is the only thing that he can do to help Paddy. Tho ugh he does not know what triggers him to do that action.
Once Frank gets his job to read books for Mr. Timoney when he delivers the newspaper namely “Limerick Leader” for Mr. Timoney. At that time he works as a newspaperman to help his poor uncle Ab. He likes Mr. Timoney because he is a kind man and he always enjoys his day reading. Every Saturday he reads for Mr. Timoney where he can earn sixpence for his mother to buy some food for the family. Unfortunately, one fine Saturday morning, Mr. Timoney is taken to the City Home because he becomes crazy and never stops laughing at the nurse that is bitten by his dog Machlusa.
That’s the end of my Saturday sixpence but I’ll read to Mr. Timoney with money or no money. I wait down the street till the woman next door goes in; I climb in Mr. Timoney’s window for Gulliver’s Travels and walk miles to the City Home so that he won’t miss his reading. The man at the gate says, What? “You want to come in an’ read to an oul’ man?” Is it coddin’ me you are? Get outa here befo re I call the guards.
Could I leave the book for someone else to read to Mr. Timoney?
Leave it. Leave it for Jaysus sake an’ don’t be botherin’ me. I’ll send it up to him (201).
His kindness somehow makes the man at the gate feel shocked.
Since the family needs money to live, Frank then works for Mr. Hannon as a coal deliveryman. Unfortunately, the problem of his infectioned eyes grows worse every day and if he continues to work it will ruin his eyes. Because of that reason, Angela tells him to stop working for Mr. Hannon. It makes him feel so sad because no one will help Mr. Hannon and no one will bring home the money that the family needs to buy some food, coal and clothes.
And I can’t stop crying now because this was my one chance to be a man and bring home the money the telegram boy never brought from my father. I can’t stop crying because I don’t know what Mr. Hannon is going to do on Monday morning when he has no one to help him pull the bags to the edge of the float, to push the bags into the houses (307).
Reactions can be used to describe a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to various situation and events (Murphy 168). In the novel it can be seen through Frank’s reaction that he still wants to work and help Mr. Hannon because that is the only way he can do to support his family financially. Frank is a very kind person because he also considers what Mr. Hannon will do on the next day without somebody’s help.
Based on Frank’s mannerisms and reaction from the discussion above, we can conclude that he is a kind- hearted person because he is always willing to help other people who need his help. He has a gentle heart that he is never able to see other people in troubles such as Paddy Clohessy, Mr. Timoney and Mr. Hannon.
3. Honest
that God is always watching him and he will be doomed because of all his faults. Frank tries to help his grandma to deliver a dinner for Bill Galvin who rents a room in his grandma’s house, so that he can earn sixpence for his mother. Unfortunately, one night he feels hungry and starts to eat the dinner by telling himself that Bill Galvin will not notice the amount of food that is not as much as usual. Then he cannot stop eating the dinner. He finishes it and when Bill Galvin knows it, he is very angry and asks Frank to return to his grandma and ask her to make him another dinner. He cannot lie to his grandma about the dinner of Bill Galvin.
Grandma says, “What are you doin’ back with that can?” He could bring that back himself.
He wants more dinner.
“What do you mean more dinner? Jesus above, is it a hole he has in his leg?” He’s falling down with hunger below the limekiln.
“Is it coddin’ me you are?”
He says send him any class of a dinner. “I will not. I sent him his dinner”. He didn’t get it.
“He didn’t?” “Why not?” I ate it.
“What?”
I was hungry and I tasted it and I couldn’t stop (152).
Frank feels afraid and guilty of Bill Galvin and his grandma that he chooses to tell his grandma that he eats the dinner for Bill Galvin.
he lies to his parents and creates a lie dance in front of his parents so that they believe in him. However, one day he returns from the cinema wit h toothache.
She’s there by the fire and Dad is there and they’re asking me the same old questions, the dance and the name of the dance. I tell them I learned “The Walls of Cork” and I dance around the kitchen trying to hum a made up tune and dying with the pain of my tooth. Mam says, “Walls o’ Cork” my eyes, there’s no such a dance, and Dad says, “Come over here”. “Stand there before me”. Tell us the truth; “Did you go to your dancing classes today?”
I can’t tell a lie anymore because my gum is killing me and there’s blood in my mouth. Besides, I know they know everything and that’s what they’re trying telling me know. Some snake of a boy from the dancing school saw me going to the Lyric Cinema and told and Mrs. Connor sent a note to say she hadn’t seen me ages and I was all right because I had great promise and could follow in the footsteps of the great Cyril Benson (160-61).
Through the reactions of his parents, it can be seen that Frank knows there is no use to lie. He cannot lie to his mother because she is a great dancer in her young age after all. He feels afraid too because there is blood in his mouth. He has to be honest because that is the only way for him to tell his parents that he does not want to continue joining the dancing class.
Once his father is away spending the money from his Grandfather from the North on drink. Angela is very angry and sends Frank to find him in every pub in Limerick. However, Frank is hungry and since he eats nothing, then he steals fish and chips from a drunken man. He feels guilty and choose to go to church for confession.
Bless me Father, for I have sinned, it’s a fortnight since my last confession. I tell him the usual sins and then, I stole fish and chip[s from a drunken man. “Why my child?”
I was hungry; there was nothing in my belly. My mother sent me out looking for my father in the pubs and I couldn’t find him. He’s drinking the five pounds Grandpa sent from the North for the new baby and my mother is ragging by the fire because I can’t find my father (208)
the drunken man since he had nothing to eat. He knows that God is always watching him from the heaven and whenever he makes any mistake it is better for him to go to confession so that God will forgive him.
On his sixteen birthdays, uncle Pa buys him his first pint because his father is in England. After drinking his pint, he chooses to return home and then he quarrels with his mother. Angrily and in drunken condition, he unconsciously slaps his mother. He feels very sad and sorry for his mother. The next day, he goes to the church and cries in front of the statue of St. Francis where Father Gregory comforts him.
“My child sit here with me”. “Tell me what troubles you”. “Only if you want to”.
I am Father Gregory. I’m sixteen today, Father.
“Oh, lovely, lovely, and why should that be a trouble to you?” I drank my first pint last night.
Yes?
I hit my mother.
“God help us my child. But he will forgive you”. “Is there anything else?” I can’t tell you, Father.
“Would you like to go to confession?” I can’t Father, I did terrible things.
“God forgive all who repent”. “He sent His only Beloved Son to die for us”. I can’t tell, Father. I can’t.
“But you could tell St. Francis couldn’t you?” He doesn’t help me anymore.
“But you love Him don’t you?” I do. My name is Francis.
“Then tell Him”. “We’ll sit here and you tell Him the things that trouble you”. “If I sit here and listen, it will be only be a pair of ears for St. Francis and Our Lord”. “Won’t that help?” (402)
and thinks that God will not listen nor forgive his mistakes.
Based on Frank’s speech with his grandma and the conversation between Frank and his parents and the Father in the church, we can conclude that Frank is an honest person. For him, it will be much better to tell the truth about his mistakes rather than lying to other people and especially to God. He knows that God is always watching him from above and He knows every time Frank makes mistake. He is afraid of God and that is his main reason to confess all his mistakes so that God will forgive him.
4. Caring
Frank may have the odd manner like his father, but he really cares about others. He shows his love and care toward the entire members of his family and even to the people that he knows.
His father has already been a drunkard since he arrived in New York. Even after he marries Angela Sheehan, he is never able to stop his bad habit. He often spends all his wages on drink only and leaves his family starving at home. The thing that often happens is that he loses his job in the third week because he spends his money in the pubs and is too drunk to go to work the next day. This condition makes Frank feel very sorry for his mother and all the troubles caused by his father.
I crawl to bed with Malachy and the twins. I look out at Mam at the kitchen table, smoking a cigarette, drinking tea, and crying. I want to get up and tell her I’ll be a man soon and I’ll get a job in the place with the big gate and I’ll come home every Friday night with money for eggs and toast and jam and she can sing “Anyone can see why I wanted you kiss” (21-22).
that he would grow up soon and replaced his father’s place to earn the money for his mother and his brothers so that he would not see her crying aga in.
Frank shows most of his love, attention and care for his twin brothers Oliver and Eugene. Both Frank and Malachy have to take care of the twins and play with them in the playground to help their mother to have a rest with their little sister Margaret. Because of his love, Frank is even willing to steal a bunch of bananas from the Italian grocery for the twins who are always hungry so that he can feed them.
My mother tells me all the time, Never, never leave that playground except to come home. But what am I to do with the twins bawling with the hunger in the pram? I tell Malachy I’ll be back in a minute. I make sure that no one is looking, grab a bunch of bananas outside the Italian grocery shop and run down the Myrtle Avenue, away from the playground, around the block and back to the other end where there’s a hole in the fence. We push the pram to a dark corner and peel the bananas for the twins (26).
It can be seen that his love for his twin brothers makes him be willing to steal a bunch of bananas for them. He wants to satisfy both Oliver and Eugene by feeding them though the way he gets the food is absolutely wrong.
Frank does not only show his care and love for his family but also to his uncle, Pat Sheehan that allows him to help sell the “Limerick Leader”. He feels angry when Declan Collopy insults his uncle and makes him fight with Declan.
Uncle Pat says, “Go ‘way, go ‘way, or I’ll walk on you”.
“Ah shut up, Mr. Stupid that was dropped on your head”. He pushes uncle Pat on shoulder and knocks him back against the wall. I drop the papers and run at him but he steps aside and punches me on the back of the neck and my forehead is rammed into the wall and it puts me in a such rage I can’t see him anymore. I go at him with arms and kegs and if I could tear his face off with my teeth I would but he has long arms like gorilla and he just keep pushing me away so that I can’t touch him (199).
people to insult his family, especially his uncle that is paralysed. Though sometimes his uncle Pat treats Frank badly, still Frank cares about him and is willing to help him selling the “Limerick Leader”.
Since Malachy Sr. often hurts his wife through his drinking habit, makes Frank able to know what his mother feels. Once his father takes all of the five pounds for drink that his grandpa from the North has sent for his little brother Alphie. Frank feels hurtful by his father’s conduct. However, he is never able to hate his father.
My heart is banging away in my chest and I don’t know what to do because I know I’m ragging inside like my mother by the fire and all I can think of doing is running in and giving a good kick in the leg and running out again but I don’t, because we have mornings by the fire when he tells me about Cuchulain and de Valera and Roosevelt and if he’s there drunk and buying pints with the baby’s money he has the look in his eyes Eugene’s had when he searched for Oliver and I might as well as go home and tell my mother a lie that I never saw him and couldn’t find him (209).
Another proof about Frank’s loves toward his father is:
I know when Dad does bad thing. I know when he drinks the dole money and Mam is desperate and has to beg at the St. Vincent de Paul Socie ty and ask for credit at Kathleen O’Connell’s shop but I don’t want to back away from him and run to Mam (237).
Frank’s thought and speech show that he feels mad with his father’s behaviour. He feels the same as his mother especially when his father uses all the money and spends his wages to buy pints in the pub. He really loves his mother and even thinks to hurt his father but on the other hand, his love toward his father makes him unable to hurt him.
his family needs to buy food, coal and clothes. He then works for Mr. Hannon and help him deliver coal from one house to another, but unfortunately he has to quit the job because of the coal dust will destroy his eyes.
“She says, You can’t be delivering coal with the state of your eyes. The dust will surely destroy them”.
I want the job. I want to bring home the shilling. I want to be a man.
“You can be a man without bringing home a shilling. Go upstairs and lie down and rest your two eyes or it’s a blind man you’ll be” (302).
Through Frank’s speech, it can be seen that his loves toward his family make him take the on burden to be a man in the family. He wants to work without considering his own health as long as he can bring home a shilling for his mother so that the family can have something to fill their bellies.
The economic condition of the family is getting worse. Since they are unable to pay the house rent, they have to move to Laman Grifin’s house. Laman is the cousin of Angela and he allows the family to live with him. There, Laman treats Angela disrespectably and it makes Frank very angry.
He throws money at me to go to the shop for a few sods of turf and wood for kindling. I don’t want to go. I want to hit him for the way he treats my mother but if I say anything he wont let me have the bicycle tomorrow after I’ve waited three weeks (324).
It is clearly that Frank never wants to see other people treat his mother unrespectably like what Laman did. He has to control his emotion so that Laman will not hurt him or his mother. He knows if he does something wrong to Laman then he will hurt his mother again. His care towards his mother makes him willing to do anything for her.
works as a messenger boy where he has to distribute the Protestant’s Newspaper. His mother never likes his job because that job is the lowest job that a person can do in Limerick. When the time of his departure to America nearly comes, Frank feels the regret that he has to leave the family.
Surely I should have stayed, taken the post office examination, climbed in the world. I could have brought in enough money for Michael and Alphie to go to school with proper shoes and bellies well filled. We could have moved from a lane to a street or even an avenue where houses have gardens. I should have taken the examination and Mam would never again have to empty the chamber pots of Mr. Sliney or anyone else (420-21).
Through his speech, it can be seen that Frank feels regret about his decision to go to America to pursuit his dreams. He feels sad because he has to leave his family and he also feels guilty because actually he can stay in Limerick and have a good job in the post office so that he can help his family. He is very sad because he can give a better life to his mother and his brothers; to live in a good house, to fill their bellies with enough food and buy them decent clothes. He wishes that he did not have to go to America but it is too late because he already has the ticket that will bring him to America.
money that the family needs and become the family man that takes all the responsibility that his father rarely shows.
5. Hard Working
Another description of Frank is that he is a hard working person. He needs to work hard since he wants to struggle for life and help his family too. He tries everything to earn money to buy food.
Frank help his uncle Pat to deliver the newspaper since his grandma tells his mother that uncle Pat will give him three pence as the price.
“I’m to run in where there’s a delivery, climb the outside steps, in the door, up the stairs, yell paper, get the money they owe him for the week, down the stairs, give him the money and on the next stop” (195).
Based on his speech, Frank tries to work hard to help his uncle because he wants to get the money for his mother.
He also works for Mr. Hannon his neighbour. He helps Mr. Hannon to deliver the coal to the houses around Limerick. Though he earns sixpence from delivering the coal, he is not concerned his health and it hurts his mother to see him work that hard to give the family food.
Mam is sitting by the fire and when I hand her the money she looks at me, drops it in her lap and cries. I’m puzzled because money is supposed to make you happy. Look at your eyes, she says. My face is black and the eyes are worse than ever (306-07).
From Angela’s reaction, it can be seen that she feels sad because Frank has to work hard until his eyes become infected by the dust coal, just because he wants to bring the wages for the family.
house he has no money and has no job. He works hard to find a job to earn food for himself since his uncle cannot support him.
There’s a market down the Irish town where the farmers come on Saturdays with their vegetables, hens, eggs, butter. If I’m there early they’ll give me a few pennies for helping unload their carts or motorcars. At the end of the day they can’t sell, anything crushed, bruised or rotten parts (351).
It can be seen that he tries to earn money for himself since there is no one there to support him.
Frank accepts Mrs. Finucane’s offers to write for her threatening letters for her customers. He knows that from this new job, he will earn more money and he can give it to his mother or put it into his saving account to go to America later. He takes the job because he really needs the money to buy food for the family, since his job as telegram boy does not bring him enough money for his family.
Can you write a letter? I can.
She wants me to write letters to her customer. She says, I’ll give you threepence for every letter you write and another threepence if it brings a payment (387).
From Mrs. Finucane’s speech, it can be seen that she wants Frank to work for her and she will pay Frank. She does not know that Frank needs the money for his family.
his eyes.
6. Smart
Beside known as a person that is odd, kind-hearted, caring, honest, and hard working, frank is also a smart person. He uses his smartness as one of his keys to struggle for life.
When Frank grows older, he gets a job to read books for Mr. Timoney. Mr. Timoney is delighted with the fact that Frank can read and it means that he can read for him the books that he has.
What’s your name? Frank, Sir.
Can you read? I can,Sir.
Come here tommorow. Come here at eleven and read to me. Are you sure you can read?
I’am sir (197).
When Frank comes to Mr. Timoney on the next day, he then starts to read for Mr. Timoney and Mr.Timoney is delighted with Frank’s skill in reading. He even praises Frank as a good reader.
He stops me after two or three pages. You are good readers (196-98). It shows that Mr. Timoney’s considers Frank as a smart person because he can read what Mr. Timoney asks him to read.
Frank then works for Mr. Hannon to deliver the coal. He shows to Mr. Hannon that he is a fast learner that he is able to follow all the instruction that Mr. Hannon give in order to help him. One day, Mr. Hannon is ill and Frank has to do Mr. Hannon’s job to deliver the coal.
harness. He lets me handle the float out of the yard and into the frosty streets I wish I could drive forever and never go home. Mr. Hannon shows me how to pull the bags to the edge of the float and drop them on the ground so that I can pull them on to the handcart and push the bags to the houses. He tells me how to lift and push the bags without straining myself.. (306).
It clearly shows that Frank is a smart person since he can do all the jobs that Mr. Hannon usually does. Even he feels happy that he can do all the jobs and help Mr. Hannon at the same time.
Mr. Hoppy O’Halloran, Frank’s headmaster, also considers him as a smart person and he even concerns Frank’s future. He wants Frank to continue his education and not waste his time and end up as a messenger boy in Limerick.
Tell your mother come and see me”. I will, Sir.
Mam says, No, I could never go near Mr. O’halloran. I don’t have a decent dress or a proper coat. What does he want to see me for?
I don’t know.
She comes to see him and he talks to her in the hallway. He tells her that her son Frank must continue school. He must not fall into messenger bot trap. That leads nowhere. Take him up to the Christian Brothers, tell them I sent you, tell them he is a bright boy and ought to be going to secondary school and beyond that, university (336-37).
It can be seen that Mr. O’Halloran wants Frank to continue his education since he considers Frank as a bright boy. He wants Frank to continue his education in Christian Brothers rather than not continue the education and become a messenger boy.
You can read and write but can you do addition and substraction? I can, Mr. McCaffrey.
Well. I don’t know what the policy is on sore eyes. But your writing is clear, McCourt. A good fist. We’ll take you on pending the decision on the sore eyes. Monday morning. Half six at the railway station (394).
From Mr. McCaffrey’s direct comment, it can be seen that he is surprised and impressed with the fact that Frank is not only able to read and write but he also has good clear writing. Even Frank is also able to add and subtract too.
Frank’s ability to read and to write makes other people like Mr. Timoney and Mr. McCaffrey consider him as a smart person. Even Mr. O’halloran wants him to continue his education because of his brightness. Frank always knows how to solve a problem and he also has a bright decision on what to do if there is a problem that puts him in the difficult situation.
B. Frank’s Struggle for a Better Life
Everyday, people face and are worried about the problems that emerge in their life. The problems emerge because of their demands in fulfilling their needs. Every person has different needs and goals in their life, and in order to achieve it, they motivate themselves. Besides motivating themselves, they also struggle to achieve the goal in their life. People will always struggle since they are motivated to achieve their goal.
(478-480), the first category of adjustment is problem solving. Problem solving is what people think as coping. Frank’s problem solving is to find a good job so that he can bring money for the family. He works very hard and takes the responsibility as the family man to bring the money home. He wants to change his life condition and his family’s life too. He saves his money from working so that he can go to America to pursue his dream to have a better life.
1. The Causes of Frank Struggle for Life
There are three things that cause Frank to struggle for life. He has to struggle for life because of his father’s drinking habit that makes the family starved. The next problem is the family economic condition where Frank has to face that they never have enough money to buy food, coal and even unable to buy clothes to wear because his father never has a steady job. The last problem is the unjust treatments of the society toward Frank’s family because of the fact that Frank’s father is a Northern man not a Limerick man. All of these problems make Frank have to struggle for life and it also motivates him to grow up soon so that he can help his family to fulfil their daily needs and to have a better life.
a. His Father Drinking Habit
