Angela's Ashes Essay

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Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt follows the struggles of the author at a young age living in Ireland as he works hard to achieve his dream of moving back to the United States where he was born. McCourt faces many challenges in his life revolving around money, social acceptance, and health of his family. A primary cause for the many problems in his life are the actions and attitudes of his parents, Angela and Malachy McCourt. Frank McCourt's novel, Angela’s Ashes, depicts conflict between him and his parents through Malachy’s addiction to alcohol, Angela’s mental state, and both parents’ inability to provide for their family.
One of the conflicts between Frank McCourt and his parents is his father’s alcohol addiction. Malachy McCourt is severe …show more content…

Due to Malachy spending money on alcohol and not holding a job, his children are starving. The children had to steal food because of not being provided for. The author tells of his experience of stealing while him and his siblings were starving, ¨Lemonade. There's a van pulling away from South's pub leaving crates of beer and lemonade outside and there isn't a soul on the street. In a second I have two bottles of lemonade up under my jersey and I saunter away trying to look innocent,” (150). Malachy McCourt’s inability to give food and nourishment for his children is exemplified by Frank McCourt stealing the lemonade. Frank’s mother also provides evidence of not being able to give care. Angela insists on moving back to her homeland of Ireland because of the deaths of her children even though America is a much better place to raise children at the time. Once her daughter Margaret dies and Angela moves back to Ireland, she says that she could not stand America and just wanted to be back home in her hometown, (36). Unlike America, Ireland has little work and poor living conditions. The author’s mother pays no attention to this and only puts her needs first. The acts of Malachy not providing food and Angela forcing her family to move away from comfort gave Frank motivation to improve himself. Frank McCourt works hard to achieve buying food and giving his siblings comfort at home. Throughout the novel, the author selflessly works small jobs to make a man of himself and save to move to

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