Angela and her family move into a different house because their current house reminded them too much of Eugene. Angela becomes stressed about the reduced family income she recieves from public assistance because of the deaths of both Oliver and Eugene. Malachy Sr. finds himself a job, however, this proves to be no financial help because all of his earnings which he recieves he spends on alcohol.
One day upon returning home Frank and Malachy Jr. finds the house flooded forcing the McCourt family to move upstairs which they name "Italy" because it is in much better condition than their old flodded apartment. Angela purchases a pig head for Christmas and Frank is embarassed carrying it home because his classmates then see the poverty of his family.
Angela gives birth to a baby and names it Micheal. Malachy Sr. believes the baby was left behind by an angel and calls the baby "Angel on the Seventh step". Malachy Sr. develops a special fondness for this baby. When the baby stops breathing because it is sick with a cold Malachy Sr. saves the baby by sucking the mucus out of his nose.
Malachy repairs his sons boots using old tire because they he is to proud to ask the welfare men for new boots. At school, Frank and Malacy Jr. are mocked because of how poor they live. Frank describes the neighborhood in which he lives. He describes the unemployed men just sitting around smoking cigarettes and collecting "dole" while their wives are at home cleaining and tending to the children.
Malachy Sr. gets a job at the cement factory which excites the whole family. Frank and Malachy Jr. are excited about maybe being able to go to the movies, Angela gets so excited that she gets up early to clean and sing. However disappointment shocks them all when he doesnt return home from work on friday with his wages. Angela soon learns that Malachy Sr. went to the pub and ends up crying herself to sleep because of this. When Malachy Sr. returns home drunk he offers Frank and Malachy Jr. a "Friday Penny" which they both refuse and Angela makes him sleep downstairs.
It seems as though Malachy Sr. causes a lot of distress and disappointment to the McCourt family. He seems to be self-centered and only thinks of himself financially. The fact that he feels as though he can spend the money he makes at the pub and just use the "dole" to support the family is a prime example of this. It almost seems as though the only member of the Mccourt family which Malachy Sr. cares for is the newborn Micheal. The part about him sucking the babies mucus was sweet but also disgusting i must say. This book continues to disturb me because I can't even imagine the amount of stress and pressure Angela must be feeling while trying to continue to support her family. It is a very sad book because it continues to document the tragic obstacles which the Mccourt family is constantly faced with.
No comments:
Post a Comment