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1-Page Summary of Angela’s Ashes
The author, Frank McCourt, tells the story of his parents’ meeting. Angela is pregnant and wants to marry Malachy, who is the father of her child. They live together in Brooklyn but struggle financially because they spend their money on alcohol instead of food for their growing family. Eventually they return to Ireland where more problems arise: Angela has a miscarriage, two younger sons die, and Malachy continues drinking away all the family’s money.
Frank McCourt was born in Ireland. His childhood was tough, but it also had its moments of joy and happiness. When the first floor of his house flooded, Angela and Malachy moved to the second floor because they thought that it would be warmer than the first one. The family did not have enough money for food, but Frank loved listening to stories about Irish heroes from his father who drank a lot at that time.
Angela gives birth to two kids, Michael and Alphonsus (called “Alphie” for short). As Frank grows older, the story focuses on his exploits at school. When Frank turns ten, he is confirmed. He falls ill with typhoid fever and has to stay in the hospital for months. There, he gets introduced to Shakespeare through stories of all kinds like movies and newspapers. By the time he returns to school, his gift of storytelling is obvious from how well he can communicate ideas verbally or through writings.
Frank’s teacher notices this talent in him early on because of how good Frank was at communicating ideas orally as well as writing them down.
World War II causes many fathers in Limerick to go to England and find work. Eventually, Malachy goes as well. However, he doesn’t send money home to his family. Frank begins working for Mr. Hannon. He will move on to work for Mr. Timoney, Uncle Ab, the post office, Mrs Finucane and finally Mr McCaffrey where he feels a sense of responsibility that leads him to save up enough money so that his family can have food and clothes
Angela and Frank McCourt get evicted from their house, which forces them to move in with Angela’s cousin Laman. While staying with this relative, Angela begins sleeping with him while her husband is uncomfortable about it. He also feels guilty for his own sexual feelings toward her. The priests’ strict rules on masturbation make Frank feel bad when he masturbates.
Frank, a young boy in Ireland, starts having sex with Theresa Carmody when he becomes her messenger. She eventually dies of consumption and Frank is heartbroken. He saves up enough money to get to New York City and has many sexual experiences there. Eventually he comes back home to Ireland where his family is waiting for him.
Chapter I
In the beginning of Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt describes how his parents meet and get married in New York. Then they move back to Ireland with their four sons. He characterizes his childhood as miserable because he was raised Catholic and Irish, which meant that he had a drunken father and a mother who was downtrodden and browbeaten. The rain in Limerick is also described as interminable because it spreads disease throughout the town.
Frank then tells the story of his parents’ lives before he was born. Frank’s father, Malachy McCourt, grew up in Northern Ireland where he fought for the Old IRA and committed a crime which resulted in a price being placed on his head. He escaped to America to avoid getting killed. After drinking heavily in America and England for many years, he returned to Belfast where he drank tea and waited to die.
Angela Sheehan’s mother is named after the Angelus, a midnight bell that rings in honor of the New Year. Her father drops her baby brother on his head and runs off to Australia. Angela’s brother was never the same after being dropped, but Frank recalls that all of Limerick loved him.
