Poverty is something that many of us will never have to face. I never could have survived growing up the way Frank McCourt did with the constant dampness of things, an alcoholic father, religion shoved down my throat and family members dying left and right. It makes you wonder how he and his family did it. Was it that he was happy with what he had or was it more than that? Frank may not have had many materialistic items or a very good father but he did many things that helped him along the way. Stories of heroes and other fiction, father figures and dreams all kept him going and not giving up hope.Literature in any form was something that seemed to bring Frank comfort and enjoyment. Once he said that Shakespeare was like having jewels in his mouth. The words of books had more meaning to Frank than most would have gotten out of it. Books allowed Frank to go off to different places. Its lovely to know the world cant interfere with the inside of your head. (202) They allowed much time to pass and gave him things to think and dream. Yet while he was still poverty stricken and adults wanted to rule his whole life, including his mind, he always had what he has learned and the stories he read kept to himself that no one could take away.When Frankie was very young his father told him the story of Cuchulain. The reason Frank liked this story so much was because it gave him a connection to his father. He finishes the story and lets me sip his tea. Its bitter, but I am happy there on his lap. (21) Frank called it his story and protected it as if it truly was. He pushes his brother down and beats up Freddie Leibowitz because he thinks that they tried to steal it from him. Another story that his father told him that gave him comfort was the Angel on the Seventh Step. Frank treats this imaginary angel like a friend. He tells the angel about his problems, dreams and fears. He is able to talk the angel about the things he doesnt feel...
