Religion In Frank O Connor's First Confessions

Religion has always and will always be a part of global culture. A few of the most prominent monotheistic religions being Islam, Catholicism, and Judaism. Specifically in Frank O’Connor’s “First Confessions” the characters are represented by the catholic religion. The main character Jackie is brought up in a strict Irish catholic household where sinning is not taken lightly . Jackie is only seven years old at the time and like most seven year olds he is feeling a bit rebellious. Jackie begins to defy his elders and continuously commits acts of sin. But it is believed by Jackie that his sin’s have a direct correlation with the people he is surrounded by. Jackie feels that the females in his community are the roots of his sins. Starting with his grandmother’s old country women life that is much to unsuited for his. Carrying to his sister Nora who beats up on him much like his grandmother and his CCD teacher who only speaks of acts that deem you to hell. Jackie believes that this is the source of his animosity towards them and the product of that animosity is sin. But little …show more content…
They are very devoted to the catholic religion stamping every juvenile action a sin. But the thing that Jackie is still to young tounderstand is that his family is right to do so. Jackie carelessly acts before he thinks as he does in this occasion “ When my mother was at work my grandmother made the dinner I wouldn't touch it. Nora once tried to make me, but iI hid under the table from her and took the bread knife with me for protection (O’Connor 302).” It is known to the reader that Jackie is dismissing the responsibility for this action by claiming that he did this in reaction to Nora wanting him to eat the meal. This action is deemed a sin by his family but rightfully so. Ironically in Jackie's mind he thinks that the course of action was not a sin and that is was the proper reaction to Nora trying to get him to eat the