Angela's Ashes Respone

           When first beginning Angela’s Ashes, I was not expecting the book to open with the McCourt family’s move back to Ireland from the United States. This book differs from nearly all the other books in this course in this respect.  Most others begin after a move to America has already been made and the reader must construct each immigrant’s past based on dialogue, reflection, or flashbacks.  However, through this unique narrative Frank McCourt is able to present both the effects of a failed attempt at immigration and describe in detail the events which result in a return to America by the end of the book.  

            The first facet of McCourt’s narrative which most interested me is the way in which the story comes full circle.  Frank’s memoir begins with his mother Angela’s arrival in New York after her mother told her she was useless in Ireland.  However, Angela’s possibilities for a better future quickly end when she becomes pregnant by a Northern Irish alcoholic immigrant and is encouraged to marry him.  Her marriage to Malachy McCourt leads to a return to Ireland, strained relationships with her relatives, several children, and a life filled with pain, hunger, and difficulty.  Despite Angela's misfortunate experience in America, her son Frank returns to America as a young adult.  Surprisingly, his time in America also begins with a sexual encounter, this time with a married American woman.  This leads me to question whether misfortune is also in his future as a result of this and other “freedoms” the new world offers.  

            A second facet of this memoir which contributes to the intrigue of the content is the effect that Frank McCourts parentage, religion, and socioeconomic background have on his childhood and decision to immigrate.  After the move back to Ireland, Frank is disadvantaged because of his father’s drinking and work habits and his Northern Irish heritage.  His alcoholism prevents his family from thriving or attaining the comforts and new technology their neighbors have. The prejudice against his Northern heritage was surprising to me, mostly because of my lack of knowledge about Ireland and Irish history.  That all the Irish were united in their views of Protestants and English and also harbored prejudice against each other was a new concept to me.  Secondly, Frank’s Irish culture is suffused with Catholicism.  Baptism, confirmation, communion, confession, and the prejudice of priests are each addressed in Frank’s life.  Many of his interactions with the Catholic institution are negative such as when the door is slammed on him after his interest in becoming an altar boy.  Finally, his father’s failure to provide for his family keeps them in poverty.  They rely on the dole, begging, and stealing to survive. In this book, the author’s familiarity with the poor Irish Catholic experience adds to the authenticity of the story. 

            Frank McCourt’s Memoir was an unexpected book for this course.  However, it’s insights about the immigrant’s experience before coming to the new world are helpful to understand the immigrant’s experience after arriving in the new world.  Both Angela and Frank’s stories develop the appeal Frank sees in the opportunity and freedom American has to offer.  

A Gesture Life Response

          One of the most prominent attributes of Doc Hata in A Gesture Life is his control.  He is calculated in his conversations, business, relationships, and schedule. However, Doc Hata can also be described as controlling. When he decides what he wants, he tries his best to attain his goals, even this means disregarding rules or neglecting the needs and desires of others.  This controlling trait stems from his desire to attain and preserve a reputation as a “good” individual in his roles of Japanese soldier, Bedley Run citizen, and adoptive father.  However, as Mary Burns states, he “tries too hard”, often causing others to suffer. 

     

          Doc Hata’s control as a Japanese soldier during World War II is seen in his interactions with K, the comfort woman with whom he forms a friendship. He has control over K’s life, deciding not to lock her in a closet to keep her from suffering heatstroke and refusing to kill her as she asks.  Instead, he wants her to be his wife and seeks to protect her and keep her alive.  This action leads to a terrible end for K. Once in America, Doc Hata establishes himself as a “good citizen”.  The people of Bedley run respect him and ask for his advice, despite the fact that he is not actually a doctor.  However, his good standing with the people of Bedley Run leads him to affect the lives of those around him.  For example, he showed control over Officer Como when she confronted teenage Sunny about her lifestyle.  Although Officer Como knew the truth about what Sunny was doing, she did not try to argue with Doc Hata.  Instead, his threat to end their relationship concluded a conversation Sunny needed to hear.  Thirdly, Doc Hata uses control in the life of his daughter.  Before she comes to the United States, Hata bribes the adoption agency in order to get a child.  As she is growing up, Hata gives her what he believes she needs rather than what she actually wants from him. His conversations with her are similar to those one would have with an adult rather than a child.  When Sunny reaches her adolescent years, her relationship with her father is unrepairable and she seeks love elsewhere.  Finally, Doc Hata controls her decision to have an abortion in her late teens, a decision which she later regrets. 

      

          A Gesture Life was a hard book for me to read because I sympathized with Doc Hata, but could also evaluate his decisions from a different perspective.  He has well-meaning intentions, but also does not see the danger of “trying too hard” to be “good Doc Hata”.  He is unlike other immigrant fathers such as Ashoke Ganguli who try to form bonds with their children, steering their children towards old traditions, but not completely controlling their decisions.  Ashoke is more willing to release his control, especially in his children’s relationships, habits, and lifestyles. For instance, he did not force Gogol to read the book he was given for his fourteenth birthday or break off his relationship with Ruth or Maxine. Doc Hata’s control gives him the appearance that he only cares about his reputation rather than his relationships.  However, at the close of the book, Hata uses his control for the benefit of others, selflessly providing for Liv Crawford, the Hickey’s, and his daughter and quietly removing himself from their lives.