Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes

Literary Analysis on Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
In Frank McCourt’s memoir, Angela’s Ashes, he writes about his “poverty-stricken childhood in Brooklyn and Limerick” (Shannon). There were numerous struggles that he had to overcome to achieve his dream and become a man. The only way he could achieve this was believing in himself and trying to go above his fathers efforts which were few. McCourt accurately shows many different themes and symbols which show his inner struggle. Some of these are hunger, stories and folktales, ashes, and the use of dialect and speech throughout the novel. He uses different literary devices to convey the heartache of his childhood. McCourt’s memoirs represent his struggle in life and how he overcame it to achieve the American Dream.
Hunger is a large part of McCourt’s work, Angela’s Ashes. The only way to explain how he felt as a child is to explain his feeling of hunger. McCourt uses excellent ways to put the point of hunger across. First, hunger is mentioned many times throughout the novel, to leave a feeling of pain to the reader and leave a haunting vision in their minds. An example that is used is that Malachy, Frank’s father, uses his dole or money to buy alcohol instead of using it to feed his starving children (Thompson) This leaves the reader feeling disgusted and repulsed that a father can do this to his children. In reality though this is just a way that Malachy can get away from the troubles that he in turn in causing to his family.
As well as just a feeling of sadness, hunger is also supposed to serve as a symbol. McCourt states that he felt as though food was a way to show that he could get what he wanted. If he could get the food it would show strength and not seem like he needed others charity (Aubrey).   A great example of how being able to obtain the food is a sign of self dignity is when Frank’s mother goes to the grocer to buy her food. The grocer says, “There is nothing worse in the...