I.

5 quotes
A. I know when Dad does the bad thing. I know when he drinks the dole money and Mam
is desperate and has to beg but I dont want to back away from him and run to Mam
(McCourt 208)
1. This quote shows an emotional divide within Frankie. The reader gets a feeling that
Frankie wants to help his father because of his alcoholism, but then also does not
want to because he does not want to leave his mother abandoned. In the end,
Frankie does nothing in particular, which might affect him in the long run.
B. Ill have to wait another year when he grows out of this suit and all because he
climbed a spout for an innocent gawk at the scrawny arse of Mona Dooley. (McCourt
190)
1. Mams quote is a window to the angered Irish Catholic woman within Mam. She
describes how she will not let some tiny little sexual fantasy of Frankie demolish her
hard work She also shows how important her faith as a Catholic is to her, so much,
that she doesnt her hard work of teaching her faith to her children be reduced to
rubble.
C. I think my father is like the Holy Trinity with three people in him, the one in morning
with the paper, the one at night with the stories and the prayers, and then the one who des
that bad thing and comes home with the smell of whiskey and wants us to die for
Ireland. (McCourt 210)
1. Frankie demonstrates how he begins to understand who his father truly is. Hes also
demonstrates his understanding of the Christian theological viewpoint of God being
three divine persons in one. McCourt ties these two together in such a way that the
reader is given the subtle hint of McCourts religious background.
D. Mam says, Alphie is enough. Im worn out. Thats the end of it. No more children. Dad
says, The good Catholic woman must perform her wifely duties and submit to her
husband or face eternal damnation. (McCourt 216)
1. Mam finally stomps her foot on the ground on the subject of childbirth. She believes
that she is worn out and the reader could also infer that she is afraid of losing more
children (shes lost 3 so far). Malachy, on the other hand, doesnt want to only have 3
kids and uses her own religion of Catholicism against her by stating that a good
Catholic wife would continue having kids no matter what.
E. Mam says, No, youll stay here where theres no work and hardly a lump of coal to boil
water for the tea. Youll stay here and drink the dole when the humor is on you. Youll
watch your sons going around with broken shoes and their arses hanging out of their
trousers. Every house in the lane has electricity and were lucky if we have a candle. God
above, if I had the fare Id be off to England myself for Im sure they need women in the
factory. (McCourt 218)
1. Angela explains to Malachy (and to an extent, the reader) the poor life that they live
because of the lack of money. She blames Malachy and his alcoholism, which has
been a problem and has kept the family in the lower rungs of society. She then later
resolves simply by saying that she has better chances of changing the lives of her
children by searching for factory work in England.
II. 3 connections
A. The third quote mentioned above is a direct line that tells the reader of the importance of
literature with Irish, English, or Scottish backgrounds. Most of the literary works that fall
under that same category often have a character or characters that portray a reflection of
the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). One literary piece that connects very
well to this concept is Macbeth, where Holy Trinity is portrayed by the three witches.
B. On page 216, there is a very interesting connection between the Protestantism of Malachy
and the Puritans. They both believed that the woman must perform her wifely duties and
submit to her husband or face eternal damnation. Mam, on the other hand, believed
otherwise and so did many other Catholics, which shows the division of beliefs between
the two types of Christianity.
C. Malachys departure of Ireland to England is very similar to what happened prior to the
book when he left Ireland to find a job in America. Its eerily similar because the same
events happen to Malachy in both places. He would find a job, work for a couple of
weeks, and then proceed to drink his pay dry with whiskey.
III. 2 questions
A. Is Malachy too full of pride to find and keep a decent job or does his alcoholism affect
him too much? Explain.
B. Why has Frankie become so accustomed to death itself?