Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes Alcoholism is one of the major disruptions in today’s world. It affects the mind and body in a very wild manner. A very good example of this is from the book Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt. Alcoholism is a key theme in this book. Frank’s father Malachy is a drunken addict. He spends all the money he earns on drinking which leads to his family having to suffer because they have no money coming home and therefore have no food or warm clothing and have to beg from the people in their neighborhood. Gerard Hannan states in his article “The primary character of Angela’s Ashes is without question Frank’s mother Angela who emerges from the narrative as a woman who cares little for her hungry and cold family, turns her …show more content…
In his book, Frank states, “I know when Dad does the bad thing. I know when he drinks the dole money and Mam is desperate and has to beg at the St. Vincent de Paul Society and ask for credit at Kathleen O'Connell's shop but I don't want to back away from him and run to Mam. How can I do that when I'm up with him early every morning with the whole world asleep? He lights the fire and makes the tea and sings to himself or reads the paper to me in a whisper that won't wake up the rest of the family.” (Angela’s Ashes, Chapter 8). Frank realizes that his dads drinking addiction causes a lot of problems in his family yet he respects and loves his father a lot and is treasuring the moments he has spent with him. He can not go against his own father because he knows that his father would never leave him and that would always be there for him no matter what. In conclusion, alcohol is not the answer to all your problems. Yes, it might keep your mind away from thinking about it, or having to deal with it at that particular time but it will never just disappear. It will follow you as you go unless and until you’ve dealt with it in a way that can provide a solution to the problem. Drinking not only affects your mind and body, but those around you