Dear Neil and Patrick,
With chapters three through seven of Angela's Ashes, many questions were raised that I have not been able to answer by using the text provided. Most of them are questions about the morals of the McCourt family. The first question that was apparent concerns Malachy, the father. In the beginning of this section, it seems like he is making a change for the better, working out on the farms in Limerick, Ireland. In order to make some money, "he asks farmers if they need any help, that he he grew up on a farm and can do anything. If they hire him he goes to work right away with his cap on and his collar and tie" (McCourt 94-95). Then once he leaves the farms, "he takes the farm money to the pub and drinks it" (McCourt 95). Malachy knows that at home, his wife and children are starving, but he goes to the pub anyway. My biggest question is if he knows that his family is starving, and he's already lost three children to sickness and hunger, why go throw away the money that he could use to buy food? Why waste it on drinking? Even though the Irish culture is stereotyped as heavy drinkers, they care about their family more. Why doesn't Malachy seem to care?
Another important question I found was concerning the new baby, Michael. McCourt said that, "the angel that brought Margaret and the twins comes again and brings us another brother, Michael" (McCourt 102). Malachy goes downstairs one day in the house and finds Michael laying there on the seventh step from the top. What I want to know is where Michael came from. How could he appear in the house without any of the family noticing? Also, who put him on the step? These questions stick out to me, and I cannot seem to answer them.
The next question I have is about Angela, the mother. Near the middle of this section, she complains of severe back pains, which force her to stay in bed all day. Yet in one point, on a Friday, a miracle happens. McCourt explains that that day is Friday, and, "Friday is payday and Mam is out of bed early, cleaning the house and singing" (McCourt 108). If she has so many problems with her back, how is she walking around the house cleaning? Shouldn't she be in bed resting her back?
Next, there is one incident that involves religion and judgement. There is a story about the Great Famine in Ireland, and how some Catholics turned Protestant in order to get more soup to eat. These people are called "soupers", and it is said, " it's a terrib.le thing to be a souper because you're doomed forever to the souper part of hell" (McCourt 133). If the families here in Ireland are brought up to be rightful Catholic people, why do they judge others based on their actions? If these "soupers" has large families, it would seem like their choice was logical. As a reader, what would you have done in that situtaion back in the Famine? And in the time period that the novel is set in, would you judge the others as well based on their life or death decisions?
Lastly, Mr. Timoney poses a question to me based on his sanity. When Frank is delivering newspapers for his Uncle Pat, he meets a man named Mr. Timoney. Mr. Timoney hires Frank so that Frank can read to him every Saturday morning for sixpence. On his first day there, Frank is told by Mr. Timoney to, "Look in the back for another thing, A Modest Proposal. Read that to me. It begins, It is a melancholy object to those who walk...Do you have that? I have the whole bloody thing in my head but I still want you to read to me" (McCourt 176). If Mr. Timoney already knows the novel by heart, why bother to have a random neighborhood kid come in and read it to him? As a reader, did you find this strange as well?
Did you have as many questions as I did? Were you able to answer these questions?
Sincerely,
Caitlyn
No comments:
Post a Comment