In Angela’s Ashes, Frank McCourt relives his tragic childhood. Looking back he breaks down key moments while growing up that made him who he was. The obstacles Frank faced included sickness, an alcoholic father, a religion that was forced upon him, and most of all the constant poverty and income gap between the rich and poor. In Frank’s eyes, all he knows is his family’s struggles and that has grown accustomed to him. Through a Marxist perspective, the family’s financial difficulties begin to come clear to him by the age of seven, when he enters school. Frank has grown aware of where he stands on the wealth spectrum. He meets kids who are more financially secure than him, and who do not have to worry about where their next meal will come from.…show more content… Due to the fear that he would get in trouble with his mother, Frank stays the night at Paddy’s house. Paddy is already known in class to be one of the poorest students. Due to the fact that, Paddy does not have any shoes and has to fight with his siblings for clothing. However, Frank does not completely comprehend Paddy’s position till he sleeps at his house. “Paddy lives in one of the tall houses on Arthur’s Quay looking at the river. Everyone in Limerick knows these houses are old and might fall down at any minute. Mam often says, I don’t want any of ye going down to Arthur’s Quay and if I find ye there I’ll break yeer faces. The people down there are wild and ye could get robbed and killed.” (163). Frank realizes that Paddy’s situation is far worse than his and the rest of the McCourts. If Frank’s Mom is warning her kids not to go down there than it must be pretty bad. Also, by the next morning when Frank’s Mom comes to get him, she is just happy that he is okay. This experience gives Frank a perspective of both ends of the wealth spectrum. It allows Frank to see that him and his family are somewhere in the middle of dirt poor and eating ham and mustard sandwiches. Frank is inspired to be successful. Paddy’s situation gives him a sense of what could happen if he does not work hard to provide for him and his
