As if this story isn't depressing enough as it is, we find out that the twins die! They die of pneumonia but Oliver dies first. It is at this time the aunt and other relatives shed a single shred of care towards their own family. Why does death bring people closer? Why can't we be close and caring towards each other when we are alive, when it actually matters? I guess though it is natural to be ungrateful and take things for granted because it is so easy to do this and we humanity always falls into the liberation of the easiest route. Aunt Aggie and Angela start crying at the funeral and even the Grandma seems disappointed, which is a lot to say talking about her. She is more angry though then sad, perhaps at herself for not caring enough in the beginning. Grandma felt guilty enough thought that she went and got an apartment for them and paid the first two week's rent. She gave them pots and pans, jam jars, and other things they would need. She warned Angela to tell her husband to get a job and start supporting his family. The family that he threw apart.
The whole family goes down to the IRA to get a special funding to help them with their situation but they are reclined. They had spent their money paying for the bus fare to go all the way to Dublin since they live in Limerick. On the way back disappointed and without any money at all, a police officer decides to help them and lets them stay at a prison cell. This is how low this family has sunk. They have no home or way of getting home that they have to spend their night a place of unwanted criminals. Luckily the men there were kind enough to give them the money for the bus fare for the next day and gave them a warm meal. The children were adored by all the cell mates and police officers there. Although they all got to sleep on the floor, Angela slept on the bench with a blanket underneath her, since she's a woman and that's more respectful.
The point is that the IRA and the relatives are unwilling to help this family, but a bunch of Dublin police officers were happy to jump in and help this family out with food and shelter. Generosity is in everyone, even those you don't expect. It's a disgrace to humanity that we are reluctant to help one another especially when it requires so little of us. Hopefully it won't take a death for each of us to help us realize the value in giving.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Elements of Poverty
These children witness poverty everyday because they live it. Because every aspect of their life is encompassed by it. Their eating habits, what they eat, what they drink, where and how they sleep, how they go to the bathroom, what knowledge they have and much more are all effected by their family's poor financial state. While many kids might find a chocolate and candy as a treat and a treasure from Santa and friendly elders, these boys believe that a boiled egg is a treat. A boiled egg is a treat to them. They drink tea and water readily and nothing more. Juice is way too expensive and forget luxury items such as soft drinks. A lot of the time they mash scraps they can find to make the components of a decent meal. And a lot of the time that's not enough for them all to eat. Forget the quality of the food, the quantity of the food is pretty low too. They use newspapers for toilet paper and the boys have expressed their discomfort. The mother is annoyed with their bums being black and dirty but she has no choice because they can't afford to buy real toilet paper. When the Mom was utterly shocked at the death of her baby daughter she couldn't cook or clean or take care of the boys. They had to do that on their own. Of course Frank helped because the other boys were mere infants (2 years- the twins). Frank had to take care of the preparation of their meals. A young child cannot take care of himself let alone his three younger brothers. The substitutes they had to use are degrading to them- and they know it too but once again, they have no other option. Their money is really tight and the Dad is unwilling to give up his drink.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Ignorance of the Uneducated Children
The truly sad thing about Angela's Ashes, is actually the unavailability of a proper education for the boys. Even though they are young, a pre-school of some sort, a kindergarten or anything really would help. Their parents are surely no help. The dad is a drunk who really cares but unfortunately spends half his time in bars wasting away his earnings. And the mom is the one who's always on her feet trying get things together, trying to feed her kids, trying to get her husband to pull it together. Neither parents has the time or ability to present good morals and values or the opportunities for their children to be educated. Many examples of this are seen in the story:
Example 1: Malachy asked what a goat was, along with a cow, and other farm animals while they were walking by a farm. The father (Malachy also) got frustrated at finding a way to answer questions. It's like teaching someone to learn a language when they're not an infant or have another language to base it on. Like how would anyone explain the word: To? It's a little more difficult.
Example 2: Malachy and the boys, Frank included were surprised when eating a banana because they had never had one before. They even started eating the peel until someone embarrassingly enough told them not to.
Example 3: One of the boys woke up in the middle of the night having to use the bathroom and the father said to use the chamber pot. However, the child did not know what that was. Not very many people do in general- it's not that unusual, but at the time this book was written it wasn't a rare thing to find in people's homes.
From these examples, we see that simple things that we all know and take for granted are not known and have just been introduced to these boys. This is the most saddest part of the book- the lack of education.
Example 1: Malachy asked what a goat was, along with a cow, and other farm animals while they were walking by a farm. The father (Malachy also) got frustrated at finding a way to answer questions. It's like teaching someone to learn a language when they're not an infant or have another language to base it on. Like how would anyone explain the word: To? It's a little more difficult.
Example 2: Malachy and the boys, Frank included were surprised when eating a banana because they had never had one before. They even started eating the peel until someone embarrassingly enough told them not to.
Example 3: One of the boys woke up in the middle of the night having to use the bathroom and the father said to use the chamber pot. However, the child did not know what that was. Not very many people do in general- it's not that unusual, but at the time this book was written it wasn't a rare thing to find in people's homes.
From these examples, we see that simple things that we all know and take for granted are not known and have just been introduced to these boys. This is the most saddest part of the book- the lack of education.
Family Doesn't Care
The McCourts are having a terrible time making ends meet. They moved back to Ireland, their native land, from America in hopes of living a better life. But that absolutely changed nothing. Except the fact that they were faced with an even more brutal reality- the idea that family can be non supportive.
Neither side of Angela or Malachy (the dad)'s families showed a true sincerity in their aid. They groaned and complained about how they had to pick up the mess and how it's always them. The families were cold and bitter even to the sweet children. The strangers back in America had seemed nicer. Instead of judging and helping they whined about how it was their fault that they needed help in the first place. But I think that instead of doing that they should have helped without any wagging of fingers and long lectures. Their children are crying and dying of starvation! They should care enough to eliminate the root problem- Malachy's drinking problem- or in some way help that. It is ironic because when the McCourts first arrive in Ireland, they asked directions to Malachy's parents' house and they talk to a priest. And the priest says: "Ah yes. The McCourts are a fine, good Catholic family." But truthfully, they're not.
Neither side of Angela or Malachy (the dad)'s families showed a true sincerity in their aid. They groaned and complained about how they had to pick up the mess and how it's always them. The families were cold and bitter even to the sweet children. The strangers back in America had seemed nicer. Instead of judging and helping they whined about how it was their fault that they needed help in the first place. But I think that instead of doing that they should have helped without any wagging of fingers and long lectures. Their children are crying and dying of starvation! They should care enough to eliminate the root problem- Malachy's drinking problem- or in some way help that. It is ironic because when the McCourts first arrive in Ireland, they asked directions to Malachy's parents' house and they talk to a priest. And the priest says: "Ah yes. The McCourts are a fine, good Catholic family." But truthfully, they're not.
Movie Wondering...
In Angela's Ashes, the story itself is depressing and each page presents a whole new insight to the gloominess of the McCourt family's lives. I wonder if the movie adaptation will uphold this mood and this atmosphere which was so readily displayed in the story. I also wonder whether it will capture the essence of their struggles or whether it will just present the series of events and nothing more, hoping that in itself will bring the story to life.
In Angela's Ashes, the supporting details and intricate moments of these boys' lives prove their strive for survival. It proves the lowest form of poverty and strife exist even in what we consider to be developed countries. Their story takes place in Ireland and America- neither of which brings the family any luck financially. Hopefully, the film adaptation I will watch later on will draw details from the book I read, like for example:
When Malachy and his family came back to Ireland, he asked: "What are cows?" And his father was wondering how to answer such a question that he simply answered: "Cows are cows, son."
This snippet of dialouge showed the lack of experience and knowledge of these boys because of their poor lifestyle. Another time, the boys didn't know what a banana was so they had started eating it without peeling it. These what may appear to be small details, actually contribute to the whole picture, the whole story. I hope such subtle yet important touches will not be left out of the movie.
In Angela's Ashes, the supporting details and intricate moments of these boys' lives prove their strive for survival. It proves the lowest form of poverty and strife exist even in what we consider to be developed countries. Their story takes place in Ireland and America- neither of which brings the family any luck financially. Hopefully, the film adaptation I will watch later on will draw details from the book I read, like for example:
When Malachy and his family came back to Ireland, he asked: "What are cows?" And his father was wondering how to answer such a question that he simply answered: "Cows are cows, son."
This snippet of dialouge showed the lack of experience and knowledge of these boys because of their poor lifestyle. Another time, the boys didn't know what a banana was so they had started eating it without peeling it. These what may appear to be small details, actually contribute to the whole picture, the whole story. I hope such subtle yet important touches will not be left out of the movie.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Theme Analaysis
Theme Analysis (half way through)
There exists such an intense form of poverty that we're forced to forget all sense of morality and human decency.
-The kind of poverty that the McCourt family faces is beyond intense. The children starve on a daily basis and experience malnutrition (as they drink tea scraps of food). This is all because of the father's inability to get a hold of his alcohol addiction. If he could, he could go to work bring his money straight home- without making a pit stop at the bar.
-Even with the help they've had from kind grocers (like the Italian one) and others, and their friends, neighbours, and relatives, in the end they have to be able to support themselves.
-As the family struggles, the theme develops and changes. But so far, the dominant theme is the extremes people must endure when their pockets are empty. This is being conveyed through the book.
There exists such an intense form of poverty that we're forced to forget all sense of morality and human decency.
-The kind of poverty that the McCourt family faces is beyond intense. The children starve on a daily basis and experience malnutrition (as they drink tea scraps of food). This is all because of the father's inability to get a hold of his alcohol addiction. If he could, he could go to work bring his money straight home- without making a pit stop at the bar.
-Even with the help they've had from kind grocers (like the Italian one) and others, and their friends, neighbours, and relatives, in the end they have to be able to support themselves.
-As the family struggles, the theme develops and changes. But so far, the dominant theme is the extremes people must endure when their pockets are empty. This is being conveyed through the book.
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