Angela's Ashes Character Analysis: Angela Mccourt

Angela’s Ashes Character Analysis: Angela McCourt Angela McCourt is the mother of Angela’s Ashes main character Frank McCourt, wife to the alcoholic Malachy McCourt Sr. If one were to judge her simply based on actions without any context it would be rather repulsive, she has an affair with her cousin, is addicted to smoking, cannot provide any sort of living for her family and is filling her sons heads with absurd dreams of a better life in America. However with context of the circumstances not only are not only understandable, but quite admirable. On numerous occasions she demonstrates characteristics of being a loving mother, whether it’s raising her sons to be kind, hardworking, well-mannered men, to even sacrificing her own dignity as

She arrives in America in the middle of the Great Depression, meeting Malachy McCourt Sr. fresh out of jail seduced by his “hangdog look” (1.27), she ends up getting pregnant after a one night stand. And from there forcibly marrying Malachy, and experiencing hardship early on in the marriage, caused by her husband’s alcoholism which lead to the family starving and going without food. This irresponsibility on Malachy’s behalf actually leads to Angela’s daughter Margaret to die of malnutrition “Her little face is there day and night, her curly black hair and her lovely blue eyes. Oh, Jesus, Dan, what will I do? Was it the hunger that killed her, Dan?” (1.258). The death of Margaret drove Angela to depressing causing family intervention and the McCourt’s to be brought back to Limerick,

But regardless she still presses on doing what she can for her family, whether it be simple words of encouragement to strengthen young Frank when he is denied entrance into a secondary school because of a lack of money. Inspiring him by saying “You are never to let anybody slam the door in your face again. [O]h, God, I didn't bring ye into the world to be a family of messenger boys.” (13.53-54). Almost commanding Frank to do and be better than just “messenger boy” and should aspire for his dream. She even goes to a complete extreme of having an affair with her cousin Laman all for the sake of keeping a roof above her children’s head. “Then he calls to Mam, Angela, this chamber pit is full, and she drags chair and table to climb for the chamber pot, empty it in the lavatory outside, rinse it and climb back to the loft. Her face gets tight and she says, is there anything else your lordship would like this day? And he laughs, woman's work, Angela, woman's work and free rent.” (12.122). This abuse is more of a desirable fate to behold than letting her family go without and be