i
FRANK’S STRUGGLE FOR LIFE AND HIS MOTIVATIONS
AS SEEN IN FRANK McCOURT’S
ANGELA’S ASHES: A
MEMOIR OF A CHILDHOOD
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
BENI ALSON SUSILARTO
Student Number: 014214020
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSTY
vi
I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do
everything, but still I can do something; and
because I cannot do everything, I will not
refuse to do something I can do.
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This undergraduate thesis is dedicated to
My Beloved Family
and
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
First of all, I would like to give my biggest gratitude to Jesus Christ for all His blessing and guidance. He is always there for me when I need Him the most.
Secondly, my gratitude goes to my father for giving me support and tolerance through out these years so that I could finish my study. I also would like give thank to my brother Ardo for giving me support and motivation so I can be better with my study.
My special thank goes to aunty Joyce, aunty Vonny, aunty Trully and aunty Gabby for caring and loving me so much. I also thank them for giving me attention and financial support so I can fulfill all my needs during my study here in college.
I would like to thank my girl Intan Natalia. My deepest gratitude for her attention, patience, love, and many wonderful things that help me become a better person. I also thank her for her time to help me finish my study and my thesis.
My sincere gratitude is for my advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S.Pd., M.Hum., for all her patience and support to guide me so that I could finish my thesis. A special thank is also for my co-advisor Drs. Hirmawan Wijanarka, M.Hum. for correcting my thesis so that I could complete this thesis. Thanks are also due to all lecturers of English Letters in Sanata Dharma for helping and teaching me many things.
ix
whom I cannot mention one by one, for their friendship and the time that we shared.
A special thanks goes to everyone that I have failed to mention for their aid and good-wishes to me and my study. Thanks.
x ILMIAH UNTUK KEPENTINGAN AKADEMIS ... iv
STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY ... v
MOTTO PAGE ... vi
CHAPTER II. THEORETICAL REVIEW ... 6
A. Review of Related Studies ... 6
B. Review of Related Theories ... 9
1. Theories on Character ... 9
2. Theories on Characterization ... 10
C. Theoretical Framework ... 12
B. Frank’s Characteristics as a Key to Struggle for His Life ... 38
1. Smart ... 39
2. Hard working ... 41
C. Frank’s Motivations ... 45
1. Irresponsible Father ... 45
xi
CHAPTER V. CONCLUSION ... 51
BIBLIOGRAPHY ... 55
xii
ABSTRACT
BENI ALSON SUSILARTO. 2009. Frank’s Struggle for Life and His Motivations as Seen in Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
This undergraduate thesis discusses Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. The story tells about Frank’s experiences when he was a child. This story is based on a true story. The author, Frank McCourt, as the main character, tells his miserable yet wonderful childhood experiences in this story.
There are three objectives of this study. First is to find out the main character’s characteristics. Second is to find out the way the main character in struggling for his life which is represented through the characteristics in the story Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Third is to find out the main character’s motivations in struggling for his life.
The writer conducted library research method in working on this study by using the novel as the primary data, books of literature and articles from internet. The theories used in this study are theory of character and theory of characterization. Since the analysis will be done based on the text itself, therefore New Criticism is the appropriate approach to be used.
xiii
ABSTRAK
BENI ALSON SUSILARTO. 2009. Frank’s Struggle for Life and His Motivations as Seen in Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University.
Skripsi ini mengenai novel dari Frank McCourt yang berjudul Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Novel ini menceritakan tentang pengalaman-pengalaman Frank saat dia masih kecil. Cerita ini berdasarkan pada kisah nyata. Pengarangnya, Frank McCourt, sebagai tokoh utama, menceritakan kembali pengalaman-pengalaman masa kecilnya yang menyuramkan sekaligus mengagumkan di dalam cerita tersebut.
Terdapat tiga tujuan dalam penelitian ini. Pertama yaitu untuk mengetahui penokohan-penokohan dari tokoh utama. Kedua yaitu untuk mengetahui cara-cara tokoh utama berjuang dalam hidupnya yang tergambar dari penokohan-penokohannya di dalam cerita Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. Ketiga yaitu untuk mengetahui alasan-alasan tokoh utama untuk berjuang dalam hidupnya.
Penulis melakukan studi pustaka untuk menganalisa isi dari novel dengan menggunakan novel sebagai data utama, buku-buku tentang karya sastra serta bacaan-bacaan dari internet. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah teori karakter dan teori penokohan. Berhubung studi ini akan berlandaskan dari novel itu sendiri, maka pendekatan yang sesuai untuk diterapkan adalah metode kritik baru.
1
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Analyzing a novel is considered important when we try to understand a piece of literary work. We need to interpret it as our own way even though many critics have discussed a lot of things in the same novel. In interpreting novel, the meaning of the text itself is really useful.
When analyzing a literary work, it would be better if we analyze the separate elements that build the literary work. This idea is strengthened by Kenney’s statement in his book How To Analyze Fiction.
To analyze a literary work is to identify the separate parts that make it up (this corresponds roughly to the notion of treating it to process), to determine the relationship among parts, and to discover the relation of parts to the whole (1996: 5).
The text is one of the parts which is become the important thing for the readers in understanding a literary work. By understanding the text itself, the readers will find out all the necessary information in a literary work which can be useful in analyzing it.
Frank McCourt has produced several novels. For example, Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood, ‘Tis, and Teacher Man. All of those novels are talking about his experiences of life. Those novels reveal Frank’s memoirs of life, from memoir of childhood, memoir of the relationship with his family and memoir of his job as a teacher. Frank McCourt’s memoir of life is up and down. Since the author’s memoir of life is the strongest element of Frank McCourt’s works, the writer is interested to analyze one of Frank McCourt’s works, Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. This novel was published in 1996 and won Pulitzer Prize.
In this study, the writer tries to analyze about the characteristics of Frank and how he manages to survive and struggle for his life. The chosen topic is interesting because in doing the analysis, the writer gets two benefits at the same time; when the writer reads the novel in order to understand the story, at the same time, the writer gets the information about the real meaning of the text itself. There are several criticism of Frank McCourt’s works found in the internet gives comments about his works, they say,
From this criticism, we can see Aull’s opinion that Frank is a smart boy and he has the willing to study about everything by reading book in any kind of circumstances and conditions. Franks keeps move on in his life by keeping his spirit in studying things and reading books although he is not healthy.
The other criticism says,
McCourt is a terrific storyteller and the language of the book is wonderful. There are passages you'll want to read aloud and, indeed, I listened to the audio version which he reads and it is absolutely enchanting. He describes a life of grinding, often degrading, poverty with remarkably little bitterness. In fact, the tone of the book is one of fond remembrance, even in the face of illness, hunger, homelessness and domestic strife. It is a remarkable antidote to the continual bitching and moaning of our Oprahfied society. After reading about McCourt's childhood, you'll think twice before complaining about how hard your own life is (Orin Judd for BrotherJudd.com - www.blogcritics.org/archieves/2003/05/30/174717.php accessed on February 24th 2009).
In this criticism, we can see that Orin Judd tries to state that by reading Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood, the readers will find out the meaning of the text which tells about the suffering condition that Frank must face in his life and the readers will realize how great our childhood are and that we should be thankful of what we have got.
surrounded in poverty. Frank must struggle for his life for having an alcoholic father and the economic condition of his family that is poor and miserable. His mother, Angela must beg for food from the ministry. Those conditions are some of the reasons that encourage Frank to do everything he can in order to survive and struggle for his life to get a better life. Frank has to deal with many problems in his life. As three years old boy, he tries to work as a newspaper seller to earn some money for his family. Sadly, there a problem comes. He suffers from typhoid and he must stay in the hospital for three months and he has to loose his job. He, then, must start to find another job and must be stronger so that he can help his family.
In this story, Frank faces many problems. First, his father’s drinking habit that becomes worse after his family moves to Ireland. Second, the economic condition of his family that is so poor and miserable. Third, the society’s treatment toward his family is so rude. Frank must struggle for his life because of those conflicts that come in his life continuously.
The novel is interesting to discuss because it shows how a person must struggle for his life in order to achieve a better life. It also gives a lesson in surviving in life no matter what kinds of problems and conflicts that come.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of study, there are three problems that can be formulated as follows.
2. How do the characteristics show Frank’s struggle for his life? 3. What are Frank’s motivations for struggle for his life?
C. Objectives of the Study
The aim of this study is surely to answer those problems precisely. First, the writer will list the characteristics of the major character in the novel. This will help the writer understand the characteristic of the major character, Frank, in the novel.
After the writer finds out the characterization of the major character, the writer will analyze the characterization relates to the way of the main character struggles for his life. The writer will also finds out the main character’s motivations to keep struggle for his life.
D. Definition of Terms
6
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
In this chapter, the writer tries to explain about some studies which are done to analyze Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood and criticisms from internet. These will prove that Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood is worth reading and interesting to discuss. The writer also explains about some theories which are needed to characterize the character in Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood and Frank McCourt’s biography to help the writer analyze Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood which represents Frank McCourt’s life.
Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood is McCourt’s first novel. This novel tells about his own life experience when he lived in Ireland with his family. It shows the courage and struggle of a young boy who really wants to achieve a better life for him and his family. Frank McCourt was the winner of the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for Biography, the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Award in Biography/Autobiography, The Boston Book Reviews Non-Fiction Prize, the ABBY Award, and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. Time Magazine and Newsweek also chose Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood as the best nonfiction book of 1996 (www.bookbrowse/com/frank mccourt/index.cfm).
deserves whatever glittering prizes are lying around that the story in the novel is so great that it is worthy the Pulitzer Prize”. Cahill also admires Frank McCourt and states that McCourt is a great writer and deserves all the awards he got (Cahill, http://www.free-essays-free-essays.com/dbase/3b/ems104.shtml).
Other critics, Mary Gordon in the book review of Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood says “I was moved and dazzled by the somber and lively beauty of this book; it is a story of survival and growth beyond all odds; a chronicle of surprising triumphs, written in language that is always itself triumphant” (McCourt, 1997: i).
The way that McCourt uses language and actions to delve into his character’s age and maturity level, as discussed earlier is also a topic that is hovered over by many critics. What is it that transforms a childhood blighted by poverty, death and disease into a story that shines with love and leaps off the page in language of rare energy, music and humor? (Kathryn Harrison, http://www.free-essays-free-essays.com/dbase/3b/ems104.shtml).
In other words, McCourt’s language in telling the story in his novel is so great and the story itself makes the critics interested in how McCourt is capable of telling his experience of life in his wonderful novel.
morning with the paper, the one at night with stories and prayers, and then the one who does bad things and comes home with the smell of whiskey…….”. His 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 for his mother so that they can buy some food to eat and clothes to wear on (Aull, www.blogcritics.org/archieves/2003/05/30/174717.php). In other words, this novel is worth reading because it shows how Frank survives in his life for his family and how his family gives loves to each others in any kind of circumstances.
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 elements inside the story but also the human spirit that McCourt shows to us in order to struggle and survive in desperate condition” (Aull, www.blogcritics.org/archieves/2003/05/30/174717.php).
In this research, the writer focuses on the characteristics of the main character, Frank McCourt, who struggles for his life in his family condition that is full of misery and poverty and he is finally able to achieve a better life. That is the reason why this research is different from the other researches.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories on Character
Abrams in his A Glossary of Literary Terms defined character as the person presented in a dramatic or narrative work. In addition, the readers interpret characters as being endowed with a moral and dispositional quality that are expressed in what they say – the dialogue- and by what they do – the action. Based on the importance, the characters are mainly divided into two. Those are main or major characters and minor characters. Major characters are usually the center of the story. They are the most important characters in the story. Usually the acts of the story are focused on these characters from the beginning to the ending parts. The core of the story is highlighted through these characters’ experience. Minor characters appear in a certain setting, just necessarily to become the background for the major characters. Their roles in a story are just to support the development of a major character (1981: 20).
to fulfill minor roles in a work of fiction. The flat character is usually the same sort of people at the end of the story as in the beginning of the story. A round character is obviously more lifelike than the simple one because in real life people are not simply embodiments of single attitude. The round character is complex in temperament and motivation and is represented with subtle peculiarity. Usually round characters are major figures in the story. Round characters possess many individual and unpredictable human traits. They may be considered dynamic in which they demonstrate their capacities to change or to grow. The mark is that he is capable of surprising the readers.
2. Theories on Characterization
In The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, characterization is the representation of person in narrative and dramatic works. This may include direct methods like the attribution of qualities in description or commentary, and indirect (or dramatic) methods inviting readers to infer qualities from characters’ action, speech or appearance (Baldick, 1991: 34).
minor characters. Many writers present their main characters with details in the round, while the minor figures appear flat and somewhat lifeless (Yelland, 1953: 30-31).
There are some ways to determine the personalities of the characters. According to M.J. Murphy in Understanding Unseen (1972), there are nine ways in which the author attempts to make his characters understandable and come alive for the readers.
a. Personal Description
The author can describe a character’s physical appearance like the face, body, and clothes of the characters have the specific appearance, so the reader can imagine it.
b. Character as seen by another
The author can also describe a character through the eyes and opinion of others.
c. Speech
The author can give us some clue to a person’s in the book through what the person says. Whenever he is in conversation with another and whenever he gives his opinion, he is giving us some clue to his personality.
d. Past Life
comment produced by the author, through the person’s thought, through his conversation or through medium of another person.
e. Conversation of Others
The author can give the readers some clue through a person’s character through the conversation to other people and the things they say about him.
f. Reactions
The author can also give the readers a clue to a person’s character by letting them know how the person reacts to various situations and events. g. Direct Comment
The author can also describe or comment on a person’s personality. h. Thoughts
The author can give the readers direct knowledge or what a person’s thinking about. What in the person’s mind and what he feels reflect on his character.
i. Mannerism
The author can describe a person’s way of behaving that a particular person has which may also tell us something about his character.
C. Theoretical Framework
will be able to find out Frank’s characterizations and the way he struggles for his life.
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CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
In this chapter, the writer explains about the object of the study, the story itself, Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood and the approach of the study, New Criticism. The writer also explains about the necessity of New Criticism in analyzing the story Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. The last part, the writer explains some steps which the writer uses to analyze the story Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood.
The object of the study in this study is Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood. The novel is written by Frank McCourt and it was published by HarperCollinsPublisher London in 1996. The novel used in the study was published in 1997 by Flamingo, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublisher. Frank McCourt wrote three novels. Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood is the first novel which talks about his own experience of life. McCourt wrote the novel in 19 chapters and there are 426 pages.
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 for 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 enough money and decent food to give to them. The children also 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 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.
B. Approach of the Study
In analyzing the story Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood, the writer will deal with New Criticism. By using this approach, the writer will focus only from the text itself in order to gain some necessary information that will help to analyze the story. In Bressler’s Literary Criticism: An Introduction to Theory and Practice, it is said,
Known as New Criticism, this approach to literary analysis provides the reader with a formula for arriving at the correct interpretation of a text using only the text itself (1998: 37).
From the quotation above, it is said that in order to interpret a work of art, a reader must using the text only because the text itself contains all the necessary information to discover the meaning of a work of art.
Once again, Bressler states in his book that New Criticism in apparently distinguishing between the personality and the mind of the poet, Eliot asserts that the created entity, the poem, is about the experiences of the author that are similar to all of our experiences. By structuring these experiences, the poem allows us to examine them objectively (1998: 43).
New Critics search for meaning within the text’s structure by finding the tensions and conflicts that must eventually be resolved into a harmonious whole and inevitably lead to the creation (1998: 44).
author, to the social conditions at the time of its production, or to its psychological and moral effects on the reader; they also tend to minimize recourse to the place of the work in the history of literary forms and subject matter. Because of this critical focus on the literary work in isolation from its attendant circumstances and effects, the New Criticism is often classified as a type of critical formalism (1981: 247).
The New Criticism based on the text itself in revealing the real meaning of a work of art. In this research, the writer tries to analyze the text of the novel in order to find out the characterizations of the main character, the way he struggles for his life and also the motivations to keep struggle in life. The New Criticism is the appropriate approach to be used in this research.
C. Method of the Study
In conducting this research, the writer used a library research method. It means that the data were collected from many books and from the internet as well, which have some valuable information. The writer divided the sources as the primary and the secondary sources. The most important source in this study was certainly the novel Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir of A Childhood and the secondary sources used the autobiography of Frank McCourt, articles related to the work and criticisms of the work.
step was analyzing a literary work by reading it several times, so that it can be comprehended well. By understanding the story, the writer came to the interpretation and then found the main character that believed as the representation of the author.
The second was finding the main character based on the theories of character and characterization. It is important to know the main character’s characteristics; therefore the writer discussed them one by one. The next step that the writer did was revealing the characterization of the main character.
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CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
In this analysis, the writer will answer the three problem formulations which have been presented in the previous chapter. Firstly, the writer will explore the characteristics of the main character, Frank McCourt and list all the main character’s characteristics. Meanwhile, the second problem is answered by entering the main character, Frank’s mind to find the relation between his characteristics and how he manages to struggle for his life. Finally, the writer will find and explain about the motivations of the main character to struggle for life.
A. Frank’s Characteristics
1. Loving
As the first son in the family, Frank realizes that he needs to take good care of his family. Having a drunkard father, makes Frank loves and cares his family so much because he knows that his father does not bring money for them to fulfill the daily needs.
When Dad’s job goes into the third week he does not bring home the wages. On Friday night we wait for him and Mom gives us bread and tea (p. 17).
Frank’s father does not bring the wages and it makes Frank’s mother feel so angry and Frank feels very sorry for his mother and all the troubles caused by his father.
I crawl into 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 again Anyone can see why I wanted your kiss (p.22)
Frank’s reaction to such condition shows that he cares about his mother and he wishes that he could do something to help his mother and ease her pain. She wishes that he would grow up soon and replace his father’s place to earn money for his mother and his brothers so that he would not see his mother crying.
Frank shows most of his love to his twin brothers, Oliver and Eugene. Both Frank and Malachy have to take care of the twins when their mother feels exhausted and need some rest. Frank loves the twins so much and he can do everything for them. He is even willing to steal a bunch of bananas from the Italian grocery shop for the twins who feel hungry at that time.
It can be seen that his love for his twin brothers makes him willing to steal a bunch of bananas for them. He wants to make both Oliver and Eugene stop crying by feeding them though the way he gets the food is absolutely wrong.
When Margaret, Frank’s sister, died, Angela is so sad and cries all the time and she just stay in the room. She does not want to talk and eat and it makes her look so thin. This condition makes Frank feels so sad and wants to help her.
I dip a towel in cold water and pat her forehead. She presses my hand against her cheeks. Oh, Jesus, Frankie. Oh, Jesus (p.33).
From Frank’s reaction, it can be seen that he really cares about his mother. He does not want to see his mother sad and crying.
Another proof about Frank’s love toward his mother is when his mother wants him to join the dance class which costs sixpence every Saturday and he refuses it.
I try to tell her, Ah, Mam, sure you don’t have to send me to dancing school when you could be smoking a nice Woodbine and having a cup of tea (p.156-157).
It can be seen that Frank does not want his mother spend the money for him because she can use the money for other things which useful rather than using it to pay the dance class.
When the economic condition of Frank’s family is getting worse, they have to move to Laman Grifin, Angela’s cousin’s house. There, Laman disrespects Angela by treating him badly 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 (p.324).
not hurt him or his mother again. His care towards his mother makes him willing to do anything for her.
The love and care which he has for his family is really enable him to be a good man who supports his family. The experience of loving and caring his family is one of the reasons for him to keep struggle for a better life for his family. He knows that his family needs him and he is able to be a man who can support them. Although Frank and his family live in a poor condition, but the love and care that they have each other enable Frank to keep move on and do the best for his family.
2. Kind - hearted
In the novel, Frank McCourt is often described as a person who has an odd manner. 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 others who need help though sometimes he knows that he cannot help them completely.
On a cold winter day in Limerick, the school gives each student a bottle of frozen milk and a raisin bun. Unfortunately, not all the buns have the raisin inside it. Frank is very fortunate because there is a raisin inside his bun. Then, he chooses to give it to Paddy Clohessy who later becomes his best friend.
me a look and said nothing and Nellie Ahearn said, “You’re a great oul’ Yankee, Frankie” (p.133-134).
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. Though he does not know what triggers him to do that action.
Once, Frank gets a job to read books for Mr. Timoney when he delivers 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 nune that is bitten by his dog, Machlusa.
That’s the end of my Saturday sixpence but I’ll read to Mr. Timoney 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 before I call the guards” (p.201).
Since the family need money to live, Frank then works for Mr. Hannon as a coal deliveryman. Unfortunately, the problem of his infectional eyes grows worse everyday because of the coal dust 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 (p.307).
From his thought, it can be seen that Frank is really worried about others especially his own family. He is worried about Mr. Hannon who does not have someone to help him and moreover, Frank is worried because he cannot bring money for his mother to fulfill the daily needs for the family.
Reactions can be used to describe a person’s character by letting us know how the person reacts to various situations 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 worries what Mr. Hannon will do the next day without somebody’s help.
others who need his help. He has a gentle heart that he is never able to see others in troubles such as Paddy Clohessy, Mr. Timoney and Mr. Hannon.
The kind-hearted characterization that Frank has shows how he has a great childhood experience. He has a best friend who will always support and help him because Frank is a kind person. He experiences working in several places that enable him to grow up with good attitude toward others. He learns on how he should shows empathy to others.
3. Honest
Frank is also known as an honest person. Though he tries to hide all his faults, he always ends up by confessing all his faults. He always keeps in his mind that God is always watching him and he will be doomed because of his faults.
One time Franks 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 so 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 notices 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?”
“Is it coddin’ me you are?”
He says send him any class of a dinner. “I will not. I sent him his dinner.”
Frank feels afraid and guilty of Bill Galvin and his grandma. He chooses to tell his grandma that he eats Bill Galvin’s dinner.
In one occasion, Angela puts Frank into an Irish traditional dance class, because she wants him to be able to dance the traditional dances. Franks refuses to join the class because his friends tell that he will be like a ‘sissy’ and will not fit to any Gaelic sports or football. Then, he decides that he will not continue the dancing class. Instead, he uses the money for paying the class to watch a movie in the Lyric Cinema with his friends. Every time he returns from the cinema he lies to his parents and creates lie dance movements in front of his parents so that they believe in him. However, one day he returns from the cinema with toothache.
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 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.
There is a time when his father is away spending the money from his grandfather from the North on drink. Angela is very angry and sends Frank to find his father 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 so 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 chips from a drunken man.
“Why, my child?”
I was hungry, Father.
“And why were you hungry?”
There was nothing in my belly, Father.
He says nothing and even though it’s dark I know he’s shaking his head. “My dear child, why can’t you go home and ask your mother for something?”
Because she sent me out looking for my father in the pubs, Father, and I couldn’t find him and she hasn’t a scrap in the house because he’s drinking the five pounds Grandpa sent from the North for t new baby and she’s raging by the fire because I can’t find my father (p.208).
It can be seen that Frank feels afraid because he has stolen the fish and chips from the drunken man since he had nothing to eat. He knows that God is always watching him from the heaven. So, whenever he makes any mistake, it is better for him to confess in church so that God will forgive him.
who should buy him, is in England. After drinking his pint, he chooses to return home and then he quarrels with his mother. Frank’s mother does not like him drink and get drunk like his father. Angrily and drunk, he unconsciously slaps his mother. He feels very sad and sorry for his mother. He did it not in purpose, he just feels so angry and cannot stop himself. 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 forgives 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’ll tell Him the things that trouble you. If I sit and listen it will only be pair of ears for St. Francis and Our Lord. Won’t that help?” (p.402).
Based on Frank’s speech with his grandma and the conversation between Frank and his parents and also the priest 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 up above and He knows every time Frank makes mistakes. He is afraid of God and that is his main reason to confess all his mistakes hoping God will forgive him.
From the discussion above, it can be seen that Frank has an honest and a religious childhood experience. He is always confessing to the priest about everything that he did wrong. He cannot lie to someone deep in his heart he thinks that it is useless to tell lie. He believes in God and he realizes that God will always watch him every time. By experiencing a religious childhood, it also gives Frank a way to learn about honesty and how he should respect it with all his heart.
4. Smart
One time when he joins the fifth class with his little brother, Malachy, his teacher asks him to write a composition about Lord and he must read it out loud in front of the class in the next morning.
“The title, McCourt, the title.”
The title of my composition is, “Jesus and the Weather.” “What?”
Jesus and the Weather. “All right, read it.”
This is my composition. I don’t think Jesus who is Our Lord would have liked the weather in Limerick because it’s always raining and the Shannon is a killer river because it killed my two brothers. …… It’s a good thing Jesus decided to be born Jewish in that warm place because if he was born in Limerick he’d catch consumption and be dead in a month and there wouldn’t be any Catholics Church and there wouldn’t be any Communion or Confirmation and we wouldn’t have to learn the catechism and write compositions about Him. The End.
Mr. O’Dea shows the headmaster my composition and Mr. O’Halloran gives me strange look, too. “Did you write this composition?”
I did, Sir.
I’m taken out of the fifth class and put into Mr. O’Halloran’s sixth class with all the boys I know…(p.234-235).
It can be seen that Mr. O’Dea and Mr. O’Halloran really surprise and shock when they read Frank’s composition about Jesus. He can write such a well and complex composition. That is why Mr. O’Halloran put Frank back to where he belongs, in sixth class.
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.
“Do you want to earn a sixpence?” I do, sir.
Frank, sir.
“Your name is Francis. There was never a St. Frank. That’s a name for gangsters and politicians. Come here tomorrow at eleven and read to me.” I will, sir.
“Are you sure you can read?” I am, sir (p.196-197).
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 a good reader (p.198). It shows that Mr. Timoney 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 coal. He shows to Mr. Hannon that he is a fast learner that he is able to follow all the instructions that Mr. Hannon give. One day, Mr. Hannon is ill and Frank has to replace Mr. Hannon’s job, he must deliver the coal.
He lets me get the horse ready though I still have trouble getting on the harness. He lets me handle the float out of the yard and into the frosty streets and 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 the handcart and push them to the houses. He tells me how to lift and push the bags without straining myself and we have the sixteen bags delivered by noon (p.306).
It clearly shows that Frank is smart since he can do all the jobs that Mr. Hannon usually does. Frank feels happy that he can do all the jobs and help Mr. Hannon at the same time.
“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.
“Well, ask him.”
I can’t. He’ll kill me. If he says bring your mother you have to bring your mother or out comes the stick.
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 the messenger boy 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” (p.336-337).
It can be seen that Mr. O’Hollaron wants Frank to continue his education because he thinks that Frank is a bright boy. He wants Frank to continue his education in Christian Brothers rather than become a messenger boy and end the education.
Because of his smartness, Frank is able to get a better job than just working as the telegram boy at the post office. It can be seen when he applies for a job at the Eason Company. Mr. McCaffrey, the manager of Eason is impressed by the letter that Frank writes and he considers employing Frank as the messenger boy for the company.
”You can read and write but can you do addition and subtraction?” I can, Mr. McCaffrey.
“Well I don’t know what the policy is on sore eyes. I would have to ring Dublin and where they stand 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” (p.394).
From Mr. McCaffrey’s direct comments, 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 handwriting. Frank is also able to add and subtract too.
O’Halloran suggests 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 a difficult situation.
Frank always attends to school and he learns well and he also loves reading books. Having the experience of studying and going to school gives a lot of advantages for him in finding jobs. As a smart boy, he always listens to everything the teachers teach him and the advices other people give to him. The experience of going to school makes him smart and it influences the development of his character and life.
5. Hard working
Another description of Frank is as a hardworking person. He needs to work hard since he is the man in the family and he wants to struggle for a better life. He also wants to help his family to earn money and fulfill the daily needs.
Frank helps his uncle Pat to deliver newspaper because his grandma tell Angela that uncle Pat will give Frank three pence as the price.
I’m to run where there’s 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 to the next stop (p.195).
He also works for Mr. Hannon, his neighbor. He helps Mr. Hannon to deliver coal to the houses around Limerick. Though he only earns sixpence from delivering the coal, he is not concerned his health.
Uncle Pa says, “What are you doing all black yourself, Frankie? Did you f fall down a coal mine?”
I was helping Mr. Hannon on the float.
“Your eyes look atrocious, Frankie. Piss holes in the snow.” ‘Tis the coal dust, Uncle Pa.
“Wash them when you go home.” I will, Uncle Pa (p.301).
It can be seen that Frank makes his eyes so red because he works hardly. The coal dust gets in his eyes when he brings and delivers the bags of coal. He really tries to be strong and keep working for his family.
Angela feels hurt when she sees Frank who works hard for the family to fulfill their daily needs.
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. “Go to that glass and look at your eyes.” My face is black and the eyes are worse than ever. The whites and the eyelids are red, and the yellow stuff oozes to the corners and out over the lower lids (p.306-307).
From Angela’s reaction, it can be seen that she feels so sad because Frank to take his father’s position in earning the money for the family. He works so hard until he makes his eyes infected just because he wants to bring home the money.
There’s a market down in Irishtown 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 motor cars. At the end of the day they’ll give me vegetables they can’t sell, anything crushed, bruised or rotten in parts (p.351).
Frank tries to support his own life by trying to find a job and do everything to get money. He keeps trying to earn money and never give up in order surviving his life.
Back to the time when Frank and his family have to move to Laman Griffin’s house, there is something that makes Frank able to do everything for his will. One day, Frank really wants to join his friends on a weekend cycling trip to Killaloe. He needs a bicycle to use and he learns to cycle on Laman’s bicycle every night after Laman goes to bed. Frank hopes that Laman will let him borrows the bicycle.
“Of course you can have my bike”, he says. “Boy should be able to get out and see the countryside. Of course. But you have to earn it. You can’t be getting something for nothing, isn’t that right?”
‘Tis.
“And I have a job for you. You don’t mind doping a bit a job, do you?”
I don’t.
“And you like to help your mother?”
I would.
“Well, now, that very chamber pot is full since this morning. I want you to climb up and get it and take it to the lavatory and rinse it under the tap abroad and climb back up with it.”
I don’t want to empty his chamber pot but I dream cycling miles on the road to Killaloe, fields and sky far from this house, a swim in the Shannon, a night sleeping in a barn (p.331-332).
At the age of 14, with the help from Aunt Augie to buy clothes, Frank tries to get a job as a telegram boy to earn money for his family.
There are telegram boys sitting on a bench along a wall.
There are two women at a desk, one fat, one thin. The thin one says, “Yes?”
My name is Frank McCourt, miss, and I’m here to start work. “What kind of work would that be now?”
Telegram boy, miss.
The thin one cackles, “Oh, God, I thought you were here to clean the lavatories.”
No, miss. My mother brought a note from the priest, Dr. Cowpar, and there’s supposed to be a job.
“Oh, there is, is there? And do you know what day this is?” I do, miss. ‘Tis my birthday. I’m fourteen.
“Isn’t that grand,” says the fat woman.
“Today id Thursday,” says the thin woman. “Your job starts on Monday. Go away and wash yourself and come back then” (p.362).
Frank wants to keep working and save money for him and his family. He wants to keep his family in a good condition so they can have some food to eat, clothes to wear and coal to make a fire to warm them.
In the post office, Frank works so hard and he always accept any kind of condition on his working place. He will use everyway to keep doing his job and he will never give up.
Mrs. O’Connell calls me to her desk to give me a black leather belt and pouch. She says there’s a great shortage of bicycles so I’ll have to walk my first batch of telegrams. I’m to go to the farthest address first, work my way back, and don’t take all day (p.364).
“Can you write a letter?”
I can.
She wants me to write letters to her customers. If you need a suit or dress for your child you can go to her. She gives you a ticket to a shop and they give you the clothes. She gets a discount and charges you the full price and interest on top. You pay her back weekly. Some of her customers fall behind in their in their payments and they need threatening letters. She says, “I’ll give you three pence every letter you write and another three pence if it brings a payment (p.387).
As a hard working person, he shows his willingness to accept any kind of job in order to earn money for the family. He helps his uncle in delivering newspaper just for three pence, helps the farmers unload their carts for a few pennies and crushed vegetables. He even accepts Mrs. Finucane’s offers to write the threatening letters only to collect the money that he needs. Frank is willing to work hard as long as it brings him the money.
He will not quit his job in any kind of circumstances. He wants to be like a man and bring money home. Although he has the infected in his eyes and his mother wants him to quit, he refuses it. Frank really is a hard worker. He will be a strong boy and keep working for his family.
“She says, “You can’t be delivering coal with the state of your eyes. The dust will surely destroy them.”
play with his friends and watch movie at the Lyric Cinema, but he will do it if his mother give him the money and the permission to watch movie.
Having a drunkard father as his childhood experience motivates him to be a good man and does not end up become a man like his father. He becomes a strong boy who will protect and support his family since his father leave them.
B. Frank’s Characteristics as a Key to Struggle for His Life
In everyday life, everyone faces and worries about the problems that occur in their life. They have their own way in solving the problems. Everyone must struggle in order to survive their life.
Frank, as the main character in the story, also has some problems that occur in his life. The problems make him struggle and able to do everything in order to keep alive and help his family to survive.
The characteristics that are described above enable the writer to find out and analyze the way of the main character in struggling for his life. Frank, the main character, who lives in a miserable and poor condition, develops his characterization in positive sides.
1. Smart
School is one of the experiences that Frank has since he was a little boy. He loves going to school and he loves reading books. He is able to read fluently and writes perfectly. Those skills enable him to find jobs easily because most people are looking for a person who has reading and writing skill.
When Frank wants to earn money for his mother and his family, Mr. Timoney gives him a job as a reader. Mr. Timoney knows that Frank can read and he wants Frank to work for him. Mr. Timoney also praises Frank’s skill of reading.
By reading to Mr. Timoney, Frank earns sixpence every Saturday. After finish his job, Frank goes home and gives the money to his mother.
Mam is delighted I earned sixpence for reading to Mr. Timoney and “What was it he wanted read, The Limerick Leader?”
I tell her I had to read A Modest Proposal from the back of Gulliver’s Travels and she says, “That’s all right, ‘tis only a children book” (p.198). Frank always brings home his wages and gives it to his mother. Being a smart boy, gives him advantage in getting a job. He is able to earn sixpence every Saturday and his Mom is really delighted in receiving the money. She can buy some food, clothes and also coal.
Living in a poor condition makes Frank and his family must try harder to earn money in order to survive their life. Especially Frank, he is able to do everything to earn money.
For example when he works for Mrs. Finucane, he must write and send threatening letters for her customers. Mrs. Finucane always gives money to stamps before he sends the letters. At that time, Frank has a bright idea to earn more money from Mrs. Finucane.
I write five more letters and she gives me money for stamps. On my way to the post office I think, Why should I squander money on stamps when I have two legs to deliver the letters myself in the dead of night? (p.389). From the way Frank thought, it can be seen that he has a smart way of thinking that makes him get more money. He prefers to walk and send the letters by himself rather than use the money to buy stamps. By sending the letters himself, Frank can save the money to buy stamp and give it to his mother.
The job that Mrs. Finucane gave to him is able to make Frank get some money to be brought home for his family. The smartness that Frank has enables him to find jobs easier and it makes him able to earn money in order to struggle for his life.
He is not only working for Mrs. Finucane. He also works for Eason Company who needs a smart boy. He actually has to do the exam to be a permanent telegram boy but he does not want to be a permanent telegram boy. He wants to go to America and reach his dream to have a better life.
Frank thinks that he can get the job easily because he is a smart boy and he is able to read and write. The skills that Frank has are the advantages for him to get jobs easier. In that way, Frank is able to work and gets wages so that he can give it to his mother at home.
Frank’s smartness and brightness help him to be able to struggle for his life. It is a way to support his family who has poor economic conditions. Frank has the motivation to keep struggle because he wants to give a better life for his family so that they can buy food, clothes and coals easily.
2. Hard working
Frank is a type of hard working person. He is able to do any kinds of job as long as he earns money to fulfill the daily needs. Since a little boy, he already works so hard and replaces his father’s duty. He must work and collect money for his family because his father never brings the wages home. Even when his father goes to England to find a job, the letter and money from his father only comes on the first and second week.
In a week there’s a letter to say he arrived safely, that we are to be good boys, attend to our religious duties and above all obey our mother. In another week there’s a telegram money order for three pounds and we’re in heaven… The next Saturday there’s no telegram nor the Saturday after nor any Saturday forever. Mam begs again at the St. Vincent de Paul Society and smiles at the Dispensary when Mr. Coffey and Mr. Kane have their bit of a joke about Dad having a tart in Piccadilly (p.287).
send them money so that they can buy daily needs. The money only comes once and after that there are no letters or telegrams.
The experience of having an irresponsible father makes Frank to have willingness to support his family because he is the first son of the family. Frank wants to be able to afford all his family’s needs.
The first job that Frank gets is to deliver Bill Galvin’s dinner in the Limekiln. His grandma gives him an opportunity to help her deliver dinner for Bill Galvin. From his grandma, Frank earns sixpence a week and he gives it to his mother (p.151). Unfortunately, this job does not last long because one day Frank eats all Bill Galvin’s dinner and he loses his job.
After his first job, Frank gets a job to help his poor Uncle Pat to sell the newspapers. His grandma asks his mother to allow Frank to help his uncle selling “The Limerick Leader” every Friday. Uncle Pat has a bad leg so he actually needs Frank to help him.
“He could get out an’ help poor Pat of a Friday night when “The Limerick Leader” is a ton weight. He could run up the long garden paths of the quality an’ save Pat’s poor legs and earn a few pennies into the bargain” (p.194).
Unfortunately he is not that kind to Frank. For his first delivery, Frank only gets three pence and for his second delivery he gets sixpence. Uncle Pat feels that he does not need Frank’s help anymore because he does not want to pay the money to Frank.
willingness to work hard makes him able to struggle and get the money to be brought home and fulfill his family’s needs.
At the age of eleven, Frank gets his job as a coal delivery man. He wants to help his mother in earning money for them to buy daily needs. Frank is so excited that he can be a man who brings home the money.
Mrs. Hannon tells my mother that John is getting worse everyday, “And what would you think, Mrs. McCourt, if your boy Frankie went on the float with him a few hours a week and helped him with the bags? We can barely afford it but Frankie could earn a shilling or two and John could rest his poor legs.”
Mam says, “I don’t know, he’s only eleven and he had that typhoid and the coal dust wouldn’t be good for his eyes.”
I’m dying to go around with Mr. Hannon on the great float like a real workingman (p.297-298).
Frank wants the job badly and he does not care what his mother says that the coal dust would not be good for his eyes. Frank only thinks in how he can earn money and struggle for his family. When he works for Mr. Hannon, he realizes that he is helping his family in surviving their life.
Frank as a hard working person will never give up in any condition that may avoid him in struggling in his life. Frank knows that earning and saving lots of money is a way to survive in life. He realizes that must not give up and keep working for his family.
When Frank works as a coal delivery man for Mr. Hannon, Frank makes his eyes infected because the coal dusts. He really worries that he must quit the job and is not able to work anymore.
She says, “You can’t be delivering coal with the state of your eyes. The dust will surely destroy them.”
“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” (p.302).
Frank does not want to lose his job. He wants to be a man and bring home the money. Although his eyes are infected, he does not care and he still wants to work for Mr. Hannon.
Since Frank is a hard worker, he cannot stand still and doing nothing. After he loses the job as a coal delivery man and recovers from the infection, he gets a job as a temporary telegram boy. Frank always wants to get a better job than before. Frank is able to solve his family’s economic problems by working in the post office. He gets the wages to give to his mother and he is also able to save his own money to go to America someday. From this job, he earns one pound and it is enough to buy food and save some of his money in the post office.
At the end of the week Mrs. O’Connell hands me the first wages of my life, a pound, my first pound. I run down the stairs and up to O’Connell street, the main street, where the lights are on and people are going home from work, people like me with wages in their pockets (p.367).
Frank feels so excited that he receives his first wages. He can give it to his mother and she can buy food for the family. Frank has the willingness to earn more money and support his family. He keeps struggle for his life to get a better life for him and his family.
There is a moment where Frank is able to buy some food for his little brother, Michael. With his first pound, he buys Michael a dinner and asks him to go to the cinema. He is finally able to make his brother happy.
and have fish and chips, all he wants, lemonade galore, and then we’ll go to see Yankee Doodle Dandy with James Cagney and eat two big bars of chocolate (p.367).
Frank cares so much about his family and he does not want his family to suffer and cannot get some food to eat. He takes the job as a telegram boy in order to earn more money so he can struggle for a better life.
Frank’s hardworking type of boy has already makes him able to earn more money and help his family. Frank never gives up in living his life and he will do everything for his family. He keeps struggle for a better life by working so hard and always accepting all the jobs that are offered for him. He knows that if he works as hard as he can, he will be able to earn more money and able to give a better life for his family.
C. Frank's Motivations
1. Irresponsible Father
Frank's father, Malachy McCourt is irresponsible and unreliable to his family because he has a drinking habit even before he gets married with Angela Sheehan, Frank's mother. He often spends the money he gets to fulfill his addiction desire of alcohol and leaves his family starved without money to buy food to eat. Because of Malachy's drinking problem, he often gets into troubles that only give sadness and shame to the family.
There a delay the day of Frank's baptism when the chosen godfather, John McErlaine, got drunk at the speakeasy and forgot his responsibility. Philomena told her husband that the child's soul is in danger. Tommy put his head down and grumbled. All right. I'll be the godfather but I'm not goin' to responsible if he grows up like his father causin' trouble and goin' through life with the odd manner. Malachy fresh from the speakeasy himself felt insulted and wanted to argue with the priest (p. 9).
It can be seen that Frank's father's attitude is a shameful thing to the family. It also shows that Malachy cannot act politely to the priest who will baptize Frank, his own son.
Because of Malachy's habit, he often quarrels with Frank's mother, Angela. Frank's father often spends the wages in the pub and he forgets about his family who is waiting for him and hoping that they can have food to eat and even a nice dinner. He often comes home with the smell of whiskey all over his body and disturbs the neighbors with his songs.
Mam faced him. These children are hungry. Where's the dole money? We'll get fish and chips so they'll have something in their bellies when they sleep. She tried to stick her hands into his pocket but he pushed her away. Have reshpeck, he said. Reshpeck in front of the children (p. 81). The Frank father’s bad habit makes the family starved and they do not have anything to eat. Frank's father does not realize that his attitude is wrong and makes his family suffer.
The most worse and disgraceful thing that Frank's father does is when he takes all the money sent by Frank's grandfather for the newborn baby, Alphie.
Dad says he'll cash it at the post office. She tells Malachy Jr. and me to go with him. He chases it and tells us, All right, boys, go home and tell your mother I'll be home in a few minutes.
Malachy says, Dad, you're not to go to the pub. Mam said you're to bring home the money. You're not to drink the pint.
Now, now, son. Go home to your mother.
Based from Frank's father's behavior, it can be seen that he cannot overcome his bad habit and he does not think about his family condition. He does not realize that actually his family needs him so much to support their daily life. He also does not realize that he becomes a bad example for his children. Because of Frank's bad habit, Frank promises himself that he will never become like his father. He motivates himself that he must find a job and bring home the wages for his family. Frank wants to see his mother and his family feels happy when he brings home the wages.
Having an irresponsible father motivates Frank to do the best for his family. He realizes that he must work and support his family since his father cannot fulfill their daily needs. Frank tries to struggle and makes a better life for his family by working as hard as he can and he does not want end up like his father.
2. The Family Economic Condition
Frank and his family lives in a poor condition since they live in New York and it is getting worse when they move to Limerick, Ireland. It is hard for them to fulfill their daily needs. Sometime they have to beg in order to get some food and clothes. Frank already suffers from hunger since he is a little boy. He realizes that his father does not have enough money to buy daily needs and he chooses to spend the money in the pub rather than give it to his family.
mother is at the hospital with Malachy. I wish I had something to eat but there's nothing in the icebox but cabbage leaves floating in the melted ice (p.12)
Angela is frustrated with the fact that she has no money to buy food for the children. On the other hand, Malachy Sr. does not give her money so that Angela and her children must walk from one pub to another just to find him.
We go back through the long streets of Brooklyn. The twins hold up their bottles and cry for more water and sugar. Malachy says he's hungry and Mam tells him wait a little, we'll the money from Dad and we'll have a nice supper (p.20).
When the family chooses to move to Limerick, Frank imagines that they will have a better life than the one in New York. Unfortunately, their life in Limerick is even worse and more miserable than before and Frank's father still does not give money for the family. Then Angela has to go to St. Vincent de Paul Society where many poor families in Limerick ask for dockets so they are able to get free groceries from shop for a week.
The man in the middle says he's giving Mam a docket to get a week's groceries at McGrath's shop on Parnell Street. There will be tea, sugar, flour, milk, butter, and a separate docket for a bag of coal from Sutton's coal yard on the Dock Road (p. 67).
Angela does not have money at all to but the daily needs for the family and that is why Angela and her children must stay in line with the other poor families to beg for dockets for free groceries.
