“Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.” Benjamin Franklin
It is easy for one to say that money does not buy happiness while sitting cozily and comfortably around the dinner table. Those who know the true hardships that accompany poverty think differently. In Angela’s Ashes, Angela McCourt knows the stress, worry, and depression that poverty brings.
When Angela’s husband Malachy actually has a job, Angela constantly worries about whether or on he will bring his earnings home to the family. Often on days when she is expecting his meager pay to come home with him, he arrives late at night intoxicated and singing Kevin Barry. Obviously having spent all the money on alcohol in the local Irish pubs, Angela once again has to struggle to find food for her children. Her frustration with her selfish husband is overwhelming. She can not understand how he can drink all of his earnings away when he knows he has mal-nourished children hungrily waiting at home. Malachy’s selfishness forces Angela to take food from generous grocers with the promise that she will pay them back when her husband finally brings home his wages. She hates owing people money but it is her only option to get food on the table for her family.
She carries the weight of the family because her husband does not care about the well being of his children. It is extremely difficult for her to find happiness when the health of her children is constantly at stake. Angela and Malachy lost an infant, Margaret, whom had been incredibly dear to them. But this devastation was not enough; they later lost one of their twins, Oliver. The deaths seemed to be caused by the dampness of Limerick as well as their poor nutrition. Shortly after the death of Oliver, his twin Eugene dies as well. “Still, she puts her head down next to Eugene and cries so hard all the women in the room cry with her (McCourt 88).” It is unfair for a mother to outlive any of her children. Angela McCourt has to cope with the death of three of her small children. This is more sadness than any mother should have to deal with. Even if she had detected illness in any of her deceased children before they passed on, the family would not be able to pay for treatment. Poverty is slowly breaking down the McCourt family physically and emotionally.
When Malachy actually has a job and brings home his wages, Angela could not be happier. To us, a couple dollars per week is not something to be overjoyed about. But to Angela McCourt, a couple dollars per week can mean paying off her debt, decent meals for her family, and coal for the fire. On these days, she sings a happy song. “Anyone can see why I wanted your kiss, it had to be and the reason is this […] (23).” Even when their home is poor and economic conditions are poor, a miniscule amount of pay can make a depressed woman happy. Poverty can constrict one’s soul. When Angela has money to provide her family with, her soul can escape from the confines of poverty. Angela feels that not being able to provide for one’s family is failing as a parent. This is why intense poverty has such an affect on Angela’s life. If Malachy had a steady income, Angela McCourt would be much happier. The spirit which one rarely sees, would be free.
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Finally, someone who used the same quote as me! In my opinion I believe that this quote is the best one for this particular memoir because I saw both parents as the " empty bags" that Franklin notates. The McCourt family is poverty stricken which then robs them of their spirit and their love of life. The entire family has gone through so much pain and suffering that they no longer have any life in their souls. They can no longer hold themselves up because their spirits have been drained. Great Job! KABUNKY
Hey! Great job on this blog :] I like how you opened your blog with a discussion of the cliche "money can't buy happiness." Maybe it cannot buy happiness directly, but it certainly can buy the necessities of life that bring happiness.
As I read more and more of the novel, I think that perhaps the McCourt family does have some life left in their souls, granted, it isn't much. Just the fact that the family unit does not break up, makes me think that perhaps individually, their spirits are lost, but as a family, spirt must exist in order for them to go on living each day. Maybe that was one of the reasons Frank McCourt chose to tell his story- to show that while hardship may break an individual, it will not break a family? I don't know, just a thought.
So good job again!!!!
Kabunky... Thanks :) I agree, I felt that this quote fit our paticular memoir the best. But at the same time, I think that everyone that used the other possible quotes did a great job connecting to Angela's Ashes.
Elle... I agree with you as well. I think that, as a family, they do have some spirit left. Since I focused mainly on Angela in my blog, I will focus momentarily on her here; Of everyone in the family, she seems to be the most effected by the poverty they experience. But despite this, we see her spirit re-emerge on days when she has enough money to provide for her family. Therefore, I think that shows that the family definitely does have spirit left deep inside.
I love your first line because it is something that many of us forget about while we are reading this book. To think that just a few dollars a week can make a mother happy really shows how horrible the depression was and still is going on in some parts of the world today. I believe that this quote could have been expanded to included Malachy and Frank also, however, your depiction of Angela was exact.
As elle said in her comment, I particularly enjoyed the opening of your blog. It was original and denounced the cliche we all hear so very often. In addition to this, it really grabbed my attention because we all know that money unfortunately plays a large role in the happiness of family life. As you noted, it is quite easy to say money cant buy happiness when you have plentiful amounts of food and also many extreneous items. Enjoyed the blog!
Why is it some individuals living in poverty are able to move beyond while others do not?
Emar, you write: Obviously having spent all the money on alcohol in the local Irish pubs, Angela once again has to struggle to find food for her children.
Did I read incorrectly? I thought it was her husband who squandered his money in the pubs.
Shay... I agree, I think the quote could have been expanded to fit Malachy or Frank as well as Angela. However, I chose to mainly focus on Angela because I believe she felt the emotional effects of poverty more than her children.I think this is because she has much more responsibility than her children. She has to feed and support her family. But she is basically doing all of this alone as her husband does not take much responisbility at all.
Big Mac...
Thank you :)I'm glad I grabbed your attention. I felt the cliche quote tied in perfectly with Angela's Ashes. It is unfortunate that money plays such an important role in happy family life, but it is the truth.
The Teach (#1)...
I think that those who move beyond poverty are the ones who do not succumb to the sadness and depression it can bring. They are the ones that try to make the best out of every situation and appreciate the things they have. I think they realize that the experiences they have regarding poverty can help them move forward. They realize they can learn from these experiences and use them to better their lives. Those that are not able to move beyond poverty are the ones who fall victim to the depression and anger that can accompany poverty. These people just can not see the light at the end of the tunnel and unfortunately accept poverty instead of trying to rise above it.
The Teach (#2)...
I can see how my sentence wording could be unclear. The sentence before the sentence you are addressing reads- "Often on days when she is expecting his meager pay to come home with him, he arrives late at night intoxicated and singing Kevin Barry". When I say, " Obiously having spent all the money on alcohol in the local Irish pubs [...]" I am still referring to her husband Malachy as in the previous sentence. But, I can see how that could be confusing. Thank you for pointing it out. If I had the opportunity to rewrite that particular sentence I would perhaps write something along the lines of this... Malachy has spent all the money on alcohol in the local Irish pubs which once again leaves Angela to struggle to find food for her children. :)
Thanks for your response. :)
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