Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindnesses and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart, and secure comfort.

Sir Humphry Davy

Monday, February 14, 2011

Angela's Ashes Chapter 2

The McCourt family arrives in Ireland and recieves a cold welcoming from Frank's grandparents. Malachy's hope for finding employment are crushed when grandma tells him that there is no work in Ireland but to go to the IRA and ask for money because of his previous services to the company. In an attempt to get money from the IRA Malachy and Frank go to Dublin and into the office of a man in charge of the IRA pension claims. After a pleading from Malachy he recieves no money as pension, in fact, he does not even recieve enough money for their train ride back home. Having no means of getting home the McCourts stay in police barracks over night until they recieve money for a train ticket to Limerick, where Angela's parents live. After arriving in Limerick they again receive a cold welcom from Angela's parents. However, Angela's mom does help them find a furnished room to stay in with one matress for them to share.

A few days later Angela has a miscarriage and is rushed to the hospital. After having been in the hospital Angela is forced to go to St. Vincent de Paul society for charity adn receives groceries and befriends a funny woman named Nora.

Frank's brother Oliver becomes ill and after being rushed to the hospital ends up dieing . 6 months after Oliver's death Eugene dies of pnemonia. After the deaths of both of hi twin brothers, Frank's father takes up drinking again and his mother has to start taking pills.

This chapter disturbs me so much! I feel so horrible for Frank who has to live in that type of environment. For me it would be hard to find any sort of happiness from the life he lives. It seems as though he is always losing siblings and can never really establish a real relationship with his parents. Not only his parents but also his grandparents are cold to him.... To me it seems as though this family isnt connected but rather they are a bunch of roomates who dont seem to function in an efficient manner... The life this family lives greatly distrubs me.

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