CHARACTERS

Frank McCourt - Telling his story from the perspective of a child and later an adolescent, Frank McCourt both directly and indirectly reveals his innocence and optimism throughout the book. Although Frank has adult responsibilities on his shoulders, he navigates his childhood and adolescence without complaints or assigning blame. Like other boys his age, he would rather play than go to school, he loves reading material adults deem inappropriate, he struggles with his budding sexuality, and he faces the strict notions of sin of his Catholic upbringing. Sharing his father's intelligence, appreciation for literature, and education on the one hand and his mother's determination, perseverance, and courage on the other, Frank embraces his humble beginnings and works to overcome them. While he resents his father's irresponsibility, he never condemns him and in fact shows empathy for him. At the same time, Frank knows how others look down on him and his family, but he neither reacts nor gives in when people mistreat him.