Dear Patrick and Neil,
The end of the novel has put a lot of questions into my head, and one big one has been itching in the back of my head. My biggest question is what is the reasoning behind the title of the novel? My first thought was that Angela had died and Frankie did something with her ashes, but that isn't true. Do you know as a reader? It has been bugging me.
Next question is why is Malachy Sr. going through all the trouble of working in England if he's just going to drink it away? When he finally comes home, he has to face his family. They have received no money and are angry. The children are also upset, repeating, "You drank the money, Dad. You drank the money, Dad. You drank the money, Dad" (McCourt 270). My real question is why did he have to go work in England if he could work here in Ireland and still drink all his money away. What do you as a reader think? I don't agree with his actions. What do you think he should have done?
Also, my next question is why is Laman Griffin's attitude so poor? He is like everyone else in Ireland-poor, dirty, unemployed, crippled-so why does he get to complain? Also, when Frankie asks to borrow his bike so he can go on a bike trip with the boys from Leamy's School, why does Laman change his mind at the last second? Frankie had cleaned out Laman's chamber pot for weeks so he could use it, and on just one day that Frankie forgets, Laman says, "Well, you can bloody well forget about the bicycle" (McCourt 294). Laman, in my opinion, is like one of those old crotchety neighbors everyone has and everyone wants to get rid of. What did you think about Laman? Do you think Frankie should have been able to use the bike?
Next, I was absolutely disgusted by Frankie's actions. I need to ask, and I don't know if I think this because I'm a girl, but why does it seem that all teenage guys are obsessed with sex? I mean, Frankie first gets into it when he's a telegram boy, and he goes to see Theresa Carmody, who's sick with the consumption. When Frankie is inside the house, Theresa, "takes the tip of my excitement and leads me across the room to a green sofa against the wall and all the time my head is filled with sin" (McCourt 324). Frankie's only 13 or 14 at this point!!! In today's world, he would be an outcast for starting at such a young age.Yet it seems like people are starting younger and younger today. But anyway, it also seems like Frankie can help himself when he's alone. He says that when he's alone up at the castle of Carrigogunnell, "I interfere with myself and spurt all over Carrigogunnell and fields beyond" (McCourt 299). I am absolutely stunned that he would actually commit the act of adultery while still only a boy, and also as a Catholic. This is appalling. How did you as a reader respond to these acts?
Overall, I am glad that Frankie did make it to America, but where he will continue on from there can only be found in his next book. What did you think about the book overall?
Sincerely,
Caitlyn
Dear Caitlyn,
ReplyDeleteI WAS WONDERING THE SAME EXACT THING!!! It literally makes no sense at all to me. However, being a memoir, I'm guessing it's in honor of his mother and the courage she had to put her kid's interests in front of her own. Hovwever, this website explains, and shows that I was COMPLETELY wrong. http://www.contactmusic.com/movie-review/angelasashes
To answer your second question, I think Malachy Sr. has gone to Ireland to work and drink because he is ashamed. He is ashamed that he comes home drunk and his kids see him in an awful state. Also, it upsets everyone and he may just think it's better off if he runs aways from his "troubles." I think he should have worked on getting sober, then go to work in England so he could send home money to help his struggling family. I think Laman Griffin is just a stubborn Irish man who had a great life, but lost it all. I think that alone would make any person miserable- he could've had it all. Your next question is a bit personal, but I guess I can explain. All boys and girls when they hit puberty now have all of these hormones activated. And these hormones make guys think like pigs for a short few years. Honestly, I'm not obsessed, but was a few years ago. I understand your frusturation, but many girls also undergo this stage, hence Theresa Carmody! Plus, Frank had it much worse than most guys have it- we are not as bad as him. Frank is a pervert, honestly. I think since he didn't have friends or other activities to do, this is all he could think about and was his form of fun. It was disgusting and a bit scarring to read, but also kind of funny. Overall, I enjoyed reading the story. It put many emotions into my heart and taught me to appreciate life and pray for the less fortunate. Always be thankful for what you have, I guess.
-Neil J.
Dear Caitlyn,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you ask the significance of the title. I sort of wondered the same question. I was curious, so I looked it up, and I found a very plausible explanation: http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question58914.html
Oddly enough, I had the same prediction as you before I read the book. I thought "ashes," as in, Angela was cremated. In regard to Malachy Sr. working in England goes, I think he was there for three main reasons: a) He could drink all of his wages without having to come home to an angry wife b) He couldn't get a job in Ireland anyways c) I could be wrong, but I believe working in the English factory offered better wages than most jobs in Ireland. I think he should have went to England so that he could work to send his wages home ti his family, but I don't think I even need to point out that I disapprove of his drinking habits. As far as Laman Griffin goes, I think he's always cranky just because he's lonely, and he is always disappointed by the fact that he doesn't live in riches. But hey, what can you do? I was very upset when Laman didn't let Frankie use the bike. I think Laman didn't let him simply because he was drunk on the one day Frankie forgot to empty the chamber pot. Yet, this was very unfair to Frankie, who had already done his job for weeks. Thus, I definitely thought Frankie deserved the bike. And when you mention the whole sex issue Frankie faces, two main ideas popped into my head. a) I think Frankie is just hitting puberty, and men tend to respond to puberty in an odd way to be honest b) Do you remember when we read the Odyssey what Ms. Lawrence was telling us about? she told us that Americans are very uncomfortable with sex compared to other parts of the world. Now I see what she means. Maybe just as American readers, we were in shock reading about sex, but maybe Ireland is more free with it than America. Overall, I am glad I read the book. It made me very grateful for the life God gifted me with. There were numerous moments of the book that made me feel very bad for Frankie and his family. I would just say to myself "Boy, am I glad I have the life I have". However, I have to be honest. I don't think I have the motivation to read the sequel (I didn't even know there was one until you mentioned it). As much as I liked the book, it was very depressing. Every book is a journey in itself, and I did not anticipate the one I would be taking with Frank Mccourt in Angela's Ashes.
Yours Truly,
Patrick Gregorek