In this chapter, Angela gives birth to her fourth child a boy whom she names Alphonsus. Many family members give the famly money for baby Alphonsus, but of course Malachy Sr. goes to the pub and gets drunk with the money. Angela tells the boys to go to the pub to get Malachy Sr. but of course he refuses, and turns them away while the baby at home is starving. This is the first time in this book where Frank is feeling angry about his father, in previous chapters he would ignore those feelings and think of the times he sat on his father's lap in the morning and he would feel better.
Frank also starts to work for his Uncle Pat delivering paper, and one day delivers to this old man Mr. Timoney. Mr. Timoney is a lonely old man who beggs Frank to read to him since he is senile, and Frank does. Mr. Tomoney is also lonely because he is a buddhist, while mostly everybody in Limerick is a Catholic. One day his doy bites three people and he laughs, and is taken away to the crazy hospital for his behavior.
-Donna Wylie
I liked this part of the book where Frank reads to Mr. Timoney because it reminded me of a scene in To kill a mockingbird where Jem has to read to an old lady, although he dreads it, and Frank likes reading to mr. Timoney.
ReplyDeleteI also thought that Alhie wasn't going to make it like the other babies and especially because he was hungry and Malachy Sr. kept drinking away the money for the baby.
-Donna Wylie
i think that its wrong to have a new baby in the house and to be going out and getting drunk and leave everyone and the baby starving. He should be considerate and stop drinking and support his family
ReplyDeleteMaria Stefanidis