Part of the reason that Frank McCourt was able to sell millions of copies of his memoir is because he created a piece of work that balances the good with the bad. Mary Karr explains the importance of this balance in her book The Art of Memoir. She writes: "It's the disparities in childhood, your life between ass-whippings, that throws past pain into stark relief for a reader. Without those places of hope, the beatings become too repetitive--maybe they'd make a dramatic read for a while, but single-note tales seldom bear rereading" (13). McCourt shares many disparities of his childhood, yet he balances these with hope established through a candid, resigned tone. He conveys a truthful, straightforward memoir that can best be described as having
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These heavy topics can often quell a reader's passion for reading; however, McCourt relays his story in a candid, resigned tone--especially when dealing with the subject of death. For example, when Margaret dies, McCourt writes through the perspective of a child who is confused and doesn't understand what is happening. In fact, the only thing he is concerned with is getting a drink of water. He is a storyteller, sharing how others were reacting in the moment, but his own feelings are not shared. When Oliver passes away, McCourt also acts as an observer. He captures the emotions of his father who cries out: "Och, Francis your wee brother Oliver is dead. Your wee sister is dead and your wee brother is dead" (74). His father turns to Francis for comfort and they all cry, but the words are devoid of emotional commentary. Finally, when Eugene dies, McCourt writes: "He died anyway" (82). These abrupt lines stand on their own and though McCourt shares the events after he learns of his sister's death, it is done as an observer or reporter. Interestingly, McCourt's tone works to soften some of the sadness in the story. However, one has to wonder how such heartbreaking events affected McCourt. He admits that he was emotionally confused when he was younger when he writes: "I thought that if you're a man you can cry only when you have the black stuff that is called the pint" (76). His commentary reveals the …show more content…
This candid tone regarding such a delicate subject is quite affective. Time after time, McCourt's father disappointed him. For example, the last time he saw his father was near Christmas. His mother and little Frankie wait at the train station only to discover that "there was no sign of my father" (269). The next day when his father walks in, Frankie recalls: "Next day Dad walks in the door. His top teeth are missing and there's a bruise under his left eye" (269). Frankie recalls the information but makes no commentary to this. He also makes no comment on the half eaten box of chocolates he receives from his father. Because McCourt writes as an observer, readers can put in the pieces with their own thoughts and judgments. He avoids the use of adjectives and adverbs to allow readers to fill in the
These heavy topics can often quell a reader's passion for reading; however, McCourt relays his story in a candid, resigned tone--especially when dealing with the subject of death. For example, when Margaret dies, McCourt writes through the perspective of a child who is confused and doesn't understand what is happening. In fact, the only thing he is concerned with is getting a drink of water. He is a storyteller, sharing how others were reacting in the moment, but his own feelings are not shared. When Oliver passes away, McCourt also acts as an observer. He captures the emotions of his father who cries out: "Och, Francis your wee brother Oliver is dead. Your wee sister is dead and your wee brother is dead" (74). His father turns to Francis for comfort and they all cry, but the words are devoid of emotional commentary. Finally, when Eugene dies, McCourt writes: "He died anyway" (82). These abrupt lines stand on their own and though McCourt shares the events after he learns of his sister's death, it is done as an observer or reporter. Interestingly, McCourt's tone works to soften some of the sadness in the story. However, one has to wonder how such heartbreaking events affected McCourt. He admits that he was emotionally confused when he was younger when he writes: "I thought that if you're a man you can cry only when you have the black stuff that is called the pint" (76). His commentary reveals the …show more content…
This candid tone regarding such a delicate subject is quite affective. Time after time, McCourt's father disappointed him. For example, the last time he saw his father was near Christmas. His mother and little Frankie wait at the train station only to discover that "there was no sign of my father" (269). The next day when his father walks in, Frankie recalls: "Next day Dad walks in the door. His top teeth are missing and there's a bruise under his left eye" (269). Frankie recalls the information but makes no commentary to this. He also makes no comment on the half eaten box of chocolates he receives from his father. Because McCourt writes as an observer, readers can put in the pieces with their own thoughts and judgments. He avoids the use of adjectives and adverbs to allow readers to fill in the