Frank deals with the struggle of poverty in many ways, as he states in the book: “we’ll be getting nineteen shillings a week. She says that’s just enough for all of us to starve on,” (63). Which is around what was $5.00, which gives insight to roughly how much they were making. However, one of the main actors in their poverty stricken autobiography …show more content…
The latter theme is clearly proven through all the struggles Frank goes through and still becomes one of his main goals, which is to become similar to his dad and earn money for the family by getting a job. However many tough obstacles appear, including deaths in the family as Frank stated in the beginning of the novel “My brother, Malachy, three, the twins, Oliver and Eugene barely one, and my sister Margaret, dead and gone.” (11). However one of the main struggles Frank must deal with is what he was born into: “Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood, worse is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish catholic childhood.” (11). However Frank pushes through and ends up completing his goal of getting a job, as he stated: “It’s hard to sleep when you know the next day you're fourteen and starting your first job as a man.” (309). However with this new job would clearly come new experiences and Frank ends up a little too similar to his father as when he gets his first wages, the following event unfolded: “I'm here to meet Uncle Pa Keating and have my first pint.” (339). Which leads to him getting beyond tipsy and coming home, angry at his mother for arguing with him about what he has done. Which then causes Frank to leave, neglecting his mother: “but I give her my back and turn the corner without answering” (342). Which leads Frank into the spiral of how Irishmen have worked for years even though he had wanted to avoid the whole drinking portion of