Class and social stratification in America

Sociology

Frank McCourt's family background:

With regard to the Financial aspect, according to the eleven resources within Investigating into Economic Class in America (Devol and Krodel), undoubtedly a significant feature of the upper class is that of inherited privilege. On the other end of the pendulum is the impoverished lower class. Hunger and food insecurity exists within several U.S. households, more now than then, and even more participate in the food stamp program (homeless included).

Undoubtedly the impoverished population, those who fall below the poverty threshold, currently have been rising throughout this previous seven years; several media outlets have reported that the impoverished have not been as plentiful since the Great Depression of the 1930s and early 1940s. The thematics are almost ironic that Angela's Ashes, published in the early 1990s, centers around an impoverished family, whereas 1185 Park Avenue concerns a wealthy family during the close of the Great Depression.

Anyhow, "The family lived in a dilapidated, unpaved lane of houses that regularly flooded" (impoverished); "Frank's father eventually found a job at a defense plant in Coventry, England, yet he sent money back to his struggling family in Ireland only once" (not a dependable resource); [resultantly] "their mother was forced to ask for help from the Church and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul"; "The family was finally evicted after they took a hatchet to the walls of their rented home to burn for heat"; this details the impoverishment of Frank's family situation.

So as to illustrate Frank's financial capabilities (mainly to himself), he held down two jobs: he delivered newspapers and magazines for Eason's, then worked for the local money-lender "writing threatening demand letters as a means to save enough to finally realize his dream of returning to the United States"; Frank makes off with the money from the purse of the dead money-lender; conclusion: Frank then sails into Poughkeepsie, New York, "ready to begin a new life at age nineteen." Accordingly, Frank and Angela were financially destitute, though they figured out a means.

The Support system, namely Frank's sole support system from his early years, consisted of solely Angela ("mam"). Angela's overpowering molestation parallels Frank's social injustice (oppression) throughout -- even to a degree in his jobs. These oppressive qualities absolutely belong in the "Social" realm, within these eleven resources, but also here due to the fact that they both realized in times like these Actually, Angela's overall injustice (oppression) parallels that of Frank throughout; but it really becomes crystal-clear here.

With regard to the Emotional aspect, devastation followed by devastation, on the part of Angela (Frank's mother); Frank worked an emotional job where he posed the bully for a money lender. Angela was molested by a member of her own family (incest). Angela was rejected by her husband, Frank's father; so they both experienced similar emotional pain.

Then comes the Social regard. First let's begin with heritage: Irish / Ireland, from a drunk (alcoholic) father, to a "pious defeated mother," and English oppression. Ireland, in the mind of both characters, equates into oppression and oppressive reflections all around' even by the impending Brittish. Frank recants on " the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years"; and a dual account of being oppressed: "miserable Irish Catholic childhood."

Next the reader approaches the ordeal of Catholicism (Irish Catholic, German Catholic, Roman Catholics, as well as the Italians, the French, even the Jewish Catholics, or the Catholic Jews), and many reflect upon the overbearing guilt imposed as oppressive and disabling. "Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood." In how Frank McCourt writes that "nothing can compare with the Irish version," this demonstrates an isolated regard and illuminates his drive to move back to the United States. Moreover, Angela's overpowering molestation parallels Frank's social injustice (oppression) throughout.

In terms of the Spiritual, namely, St. Francis of Assisi, "the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests; bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for eight hundred long years": Frank apparently factors all these together (the oppressive Irish Catholic childhood and the oppression of the "eight hundred long years" of English oppression). Spirituality, thus, was only another restraint, an overbearing tyrannical oppressor.

As for the Mental/cognitive concern, McCourt's memoir lets on to many of these thematics (of Devol's "eleven resources"). As a narrator, McCourt (as an adult) expresses his rounded or contrived opinion in a strong and clear manner. This is necessary for the reader to carefully follow throughout, as the narration preservers through the Franks viewpoint as a child. Thus, the reader gets to objectively conclude with his in her own judgment (though in the rational mind, no interpretation could be too far a reach from most others, though the details individualize these oppressive situations entirely).

As per the Formal register of language, as noted, this equates in a big way through the limitations imposed by social class. Regardless, Frank eventually sees the United States as a place where social class holds no bearing. Even though he is of such a low social class, though, he can still formulate thoughts, build personal ideals, and dream. The Formal register of language, therefore, typecast Irish citizens, in Frank's view, whereas within the social regime of the U.S. It did not.

The Physical: details almost cause the reader to feel pain (vicariously): Hunger becomes a symbolic and recurrent theme throughout Frank's childhood, and on through his adolescent alongside hie adult tribulations. His father's alcoholism can be considered a self-induced form of physical abuse. However, hunger and food deprivation / scarcity would be the greatest sign of physical abuse: "...food on the table is what she [Franks mother] wants, not suffering Ireland."