Character Analysis & Notes

FRANK McCOURT
-story written in his point of view (his memoir)
-curious, helpful
-as the eldest of the kids, he's the optimist
-caring (takes care of his younger brothers)

MALACHY McCOURT (the brother)
-(as a three- year old)
-he's playful, sensitive
-friendly, an admirer (became good friends with a seven- year old neighbour)

MALACHY McCOURT (the father)
-an alcholic
-a good storyteller (tells lots of stories to kids)
-lazy person, of little help to family chores
(except when drying the boys after their baths)
-irresponsible person (only married wife because of fierce encounter with wife's cousines- otherwise would have never considered marriage after his pre-marital relations)
-says: "I don't eat much. Food is a shock to the system"
-not a good listener (wife continues saying to him to bring his wages home)
-does have feelings though: absolutely adores daughter, Margaret- devastated at her death

ANGELA McCOURT (the mother)
-a woman of sacrifice (married upon duty)
-loving towards children (made sure they had at least something to eat)
-resourceful (made bizarre meals with what little she had)
-her background is of the "high class" Irish family
-struggling, thriving
-cries a lot at night sometimes when husband comes home drunk, no money, and the kids are crying for food

OLIVER & EUGENE McCOURT (the twins)
-TBA (too young to tell about their character, behaviour, etc...)

Angela's Ashes: Notes

Angela's Ashes is Frank McCourt's memoir

Reoccuring Idea/Theme: Poverty
Basic Story (so far):

Frankie, the little boy is living an Irish childhood of immense poverty. He has an alcoholic father who spends his weekly wages on alcohol, rather than supporting his family. His mother, Angela, is trying to make ends meet with what little her family has. Frankie has four siblings: a younger brother Malachy (age 3), twin brothers Oliver and Eugene (age 1) and a sister, Margaret (newborn). Margaret is a beautiful baby that brings joy for the first time in the McCourt household, even causing the father, also named Malachy, to stop drinking. But after she dies unexpectately, everything returns to chaos. The family continues to struggle to feed themselves.