An Analysis of Frank O'Connor's 'The Man of the House'
In the story “The Man of House” the protagonist assumes the responsibility of tending to his sick mother and taking care of household chores. This act of love on his part is remarkable because he is a ten year old boy who is taking on a role that is traditionally assigned to females. It is clear that he cares for his mother because he stops from school to ensure that she is taken care of. He displays responsibility when he lights the fire to keep her and the house warm, prepares breakfast and goes on errands for her. He does not allow his mother to do anything strenuous even though she expresses guilt for burdening him. At first she tries to hide her condition but he recognizes her weakened state and insists on taking over.
Minnie Ryan, a lady who visits his mother, expresses admiration at Sullivan’s willingness to meet his mother’s needs. His mother is quite proud of this fact and says he is as ‘good as gold’. Miss Ryan states that he is one of the few who are like that because there are those who are ‘more like savages than Christians’.
Her sickness is quite a frightening experience for the little boy because he worries that if his mother has pneumonia she might die. This leaves him thinking about where he might go should this happen as it is suggested that he might end up in an orphanage. In light of this possibility he does everything he can to ensure that nothing happens to her. He risks going to a public house (bar) at his age to get whiskey for his mother. He knows it is expensive but he is only thinking about his mother’s well-being. He even decides to go the long distance to the North Dispensary to get medicine because he wants his mother to get well. The doctor is amazed at his willingness to walk so far through unfamiliar places but the little boy is determined to do what he can to improve his mother’s condition. He even plans to buy a candle for the Virgin Mary with the penny his mother gives him so that Mary can perform the miracle of healing his mother. However, he buys sweets with the penny and is tricked by a little girl at the North Dispensary to drink the entire bottle of cough medicine. This leaves him overwhelmed by guilt as he is now convinced that because of his actions his mother’s illness will not improve and he will not get his miracle. He hurries to the cathedral to beg the Virgin Mary’s forgiveness and assistance in making his mother better even though he had spent the money on the sweets.
When he reaches home, at first he thinks his mother has still not improved but soon notices that she is better. He confesses his actions – drinking the cough medicine – which she easily forgives and dismisses by saying she should not have sent him so far by himself. The story ends with him being sick but still happy that he has got his miracle.
Point of View: The First-Person Narrative
The strategy of narrating the story from the first-person point of view (the boy’s perspective) is effective because it captures the experiences of the little boy. Through this point of view the reader gets the details of the actions he undertakes to take care of his mother such as lighting the fire and going to the dispensary for her medicine. This point of view also enables the reader to understand the great fear he feels at losing his mother to pneumonia. He expresses fear of what may happen to him if she should die. The point of view is also effective because it shows the reader the extreme guilt he feels at drinking his mother’s medicine and spending the money on sweets. Since the story focuses primarily on him, it is more appropriate to narrate from this personal perspective because the boy is more reliable since he is the one who is experiencing the challenge of looking after his sick mother.
Additional Devices
- irony: Consideration can be given to how he is easily swayed to spend his money and drink the medicine although he had resolved to being mature and intentional in taking care of his mother and the household affairs. This helps to remind us about his innocence and inexperience.
- symbolism: Pay attention to the significance that is placed on the cathedral, the candle and praying in helping to heal his mother. Also, reflect on the colour of the girl's eyes and clothes(shawl) - green - which has connections with envy.
Themes
- Love and family relationships/parent-child relationship
- Childhood experiences
- Religion
- Poverty
- Innocence
- Responsibility
STUDY QUESTIONS
Share your answers to these questions with your peers or teacher so you can receive feedback.
- Who are the characters in the story?
- What is the setting of the story?
- What has happened to the mother?
- Describe how the narrator's mother is presented.
- Explain what the narrator does in caring for his mother.
- What concern does the little boy have about his mother's illness?
- Who is Minnie Ryan?
- Who tricks the narrator and how does the person do this?
- How does the narrator react to being tricked?
- How does the story end?
- Does any part of the narrator's experience in the story evoke sympathy?
- What themes does the story explore?
- What narrative techniques are present in the story and how are they used?
What is the authors style in creating the story? What is the tone , the vocabulary, and his attention on the main character or characters?
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