Angela's Ashes #4

Recently in Angela's Ashes, Frank's life takes a turn from decent to devastating. At 10 years old he is diagnosed with typhoid, causing him great discomfort and short lapses of unconsciousness. He is brought to the hospital where he meets a girl his age, Lilly, who has cancer. They become good friends, reading each other Shakespeare, and keeping one another company. Although things are surely rough for Frankie he looks at life rather optimistically, rarely complaining and appreciating small things. At one point Frank writes, "Dad nods and puts his hand on mine again. He looks at me, steps away, stops, comes back, kisses me on the forehead for the first time in my life and I'm so happy I feel like floating out of the bed" (McCourt 193). Just by reading these few lines I am able to understand that Frankie values love over everything else. He doesn't care that he is poor, he isn't feeling bad for himself because of his brutal condition, he gets happy just from his father's action of love.

Frank McCourt's memoir is so innocent I have no doubt in my mind he grows up to be an ethical person. Frankie not only recognizes the importance of recieving love, he recognizes the importance of giving it. When recalling his time at the hospital with his father McCourt writes, "He's like Paddy Clohessy the day I gave him the raisin. When he looks sad it's the worst thing in the world and I start crying" (McCourt 193). The fact a ten year old boy, terribly ill with typhoid fever, focus's his greatest worries on his father's sadness is amazing. I believe that although Frank McCourt's life was filled with despair and suffering, he was able to mature from it and he teaches himself what he believes is most important in life.

Angela's Ashes #3

At his point in Grank McCourt's memoir, Angela's Ashes, Frank has befriended a neighborhood boy named Mikey. Frank is also involved in the Catholic Church and his First Communiun is about to take place. Mikey gets Frank excited by telling him the best things about the First Communiun day, "Mikey got over five shillings on his First Communiun day and ate so many sweets and buns he threw up in the Lyric Cinema" (McCourt 117). Although Mikey's life seems nice, at least to Frankie, his family is also having a hard time financially and his mother is a bit "crazy".
This chapter is finally humorous and nothing completely rough comes upon the McCourt family. Frankie is in school, he is making friends, and life just doesn't seem so bad. Although Frankie's new friend Mikey Mollow seems like the type of boy who could possibly "ruin" Frankie's innocence with his sexual expertise, "grown up talk", and fascinating stories Frank does not change. One day Frankie says, "Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I overslept. I nearly missed my first communiun"(McCourt 129). Frank confesses to the smallest of sins which demonstrates his eagerness to be good even when the world is confusing and full or despair.