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Examples Of Ethos In Angela's Ashes

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Humor and Pathos in the creation of Stereotypes Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir. The memoir begins in America during The Great Depression. Following the passing of baby Margaret, the family decides to return to Ireland. The memoir follows Franks, his mother Angela, his father Malachy Sr., and his sibling's experiences living in the slums of Limerick. McCourt uses humor and pathos to present the stereotypes of the drunken, dreaming father, the sad but strong-willed Irish mother, and the wayward, ignorant child through the characterizations of Malachy Sr., Angela, and young Frank McCourt. To begin, McCourt accurately portrays the stereotype of the drunken, dreaming father through his characterization of Malachy Sr. by using pathos to create an emotional connection with the …show more content…

McCourt highlights the prejudices Malachy faces when he searches for a job. After acquiring work he is buoyant by all the newfound money he is gaining he decides to treat himself to a pint. By the end of the night, Malachy wastes all of his family's money and is fired from his job the next day because he shows up late to work drunk. These events continue, causing a financially and emotionally harmful cycle. Pathos is used when Frank expresses, “He turns toward Mam and she says, You’re not sleeping in this bed tonight. He makes his way downstairs with the candle, sleeps on a chair, misses work in the morning, loses the job at the cement factory, and we’re back on the dole again” (112). Through McCourt's portrayal of Malachy Sr., McCourt highlights the broken promises and heartbreak his father causes the family by depicting Malachy’s personality when sober as caring, loving, and humorous. But when Malachy “does the bad thing” (210), he becomes this crazy drunk lunatic

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