A character study of Malachy McCourt from Angelas Ashes, written by Frank McCourt.
Character Study- Malachy McCourt (senior)
In the book Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, Malachy is one of the main characters. He is the father of the main character and author Frank McCourt. Malachy was an irresponsible and uncaring person. He has no respect for others and is egotistic.
Malachy was born in Toome, County Antrim on a farm. After fighting with the Old IRA he got in trouble with the Irish and the English. He also was wanted by the English and therefore moved to America. He thought he was in hell for his sins because of the Prohibition. However. When he later found speakeasies, that all changed. Later Malachy had a "knee trembler" with Angela Sheehan and his life changed. He didn't want to get married to anyone and didn't have the money to support a family. The MacNamara sisters (cousins of Angela) forced him to get married to Angela because he got her pregnant. They also didn't believe that a woman having intercourse should be unmarried. Therefore 4 months after the "knee tremble", they got married. Their first child (Frank) was named Male because Malachy was drunk and his deep accent preventing the clerk from understanding. Later Malachy had 3 boys (Malachy, Michael and Alphy), male twins (Eugene and Oliver) and a daughter (Margaret). The twins and the girl die in their infancy. Malachy after the birth of Alphy goes to England to work in a factory.
Malachy was an irresponsible person. He, even though married against his will, but because of a baby, had no respect for his family. He used his wages to pay for his liquor consumptions. He was somehow able to come home and show his children he was drunk. When Angela tried to check if any money was left, he said "Have reshpeck, reshpeck in front of the children." He, no matter how much the family needed money spared none of it. He came back singing Kevin Barry or Roddy McCorley songs. He tells his kids to die for the motherland (Ireland) and to fight for it. He doesn't care how old they are or what time
In the book Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt, Malachy is one of the main characters. He is the father of the main character and author Frank McCourt. Malachy was an irresponsible and uncaring person. He has no respect for others and is egotistic.
Malachy was born in Toome, County Antrim on a farm. After fighting with the Old IRA he got in trouble with the Irish and the English. He also was wanted by the English and therefore moved to America. He thought he was in hell for his sins because of the Prohibition. However. When he later found speakeasies, that all changed. Later Malachy had a "knee trembler" with Angela Sheehan and his life changed. He didn't want to get married to anyone and didn't have the money to support a family. The MacNamara sisters (cousins of Angela) forced him to get married to Angela because he got her pregnant. They also didn't believe that a woman having intercourse should be unmarried. Therefore 4 months after the "knee tremble", they got married. Their first child (Frank) was named Male because Malachy was drunk and his deep accent preventing the clerk from understanding. Later Malachy had 3 boys (Malachy, Michael and Alphy), male twins (Eugene and Oliver) and a daughter (Margaret). The twins and the girl die in their infancy. Malachy after the birth of Alphy goes to England to work in a factory.
Malachy was an irresponsible person. He, even though married against his will, but because of a baby, had no respect for his family. He used his wages to pay for his liquor consumptions. He was somehow able to come home and show his children he was drunk. When Angela tried to check if any money was left, he said "Have reshpeck, reshpeck in front of the children." He, no matter how much the family needed money spared none of it. He came back singing Kevin Barry or Roddy McCorley songs. He tells his kids to die for the motherland (Ireland) and to fight for it. He doesn't care how old they are or what time