Significance of Women in Angelas Ashes

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Significance of Women in Angelas Ashes

• By Cassie Low, Kayla Miller, Leo Wallat, Michael
  Baller, Jesse Bronson, Ginny Heiges, and Kambrie
  Chesterman

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Significance of Women

• The women in the novel hugely impacted Francis
  life and the way he was raised
• Even though there is prejudice, women are
  presented as an extremely important aspect, if
  not the leading role in the family
• Women do not have special significance in the
  Catholic church, where men are dominate
• Older woman hardened, critical, and bitter
• Younger woman sociable, not prude, and sexually
  forward

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Mothers Role

• Wealthy
• Stay at home and have assistance from maids and
  servants
• Less responsibility over the children
• More responsibility over the household
• Teach manners and morals

• Poor
• Supposed to stay at home and take care of
  children
• Teach proper morals and religion
• Attempt to provide for the family when father
  fails

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Interaction of Women

• United States
• The woman willingly aid each other
• Understanding
• Friendly
• More excepting of various religious

• Ireland
• Begrudgingly help others only if asked
• Secluded
• Not compassionate
• More concerned about Catholicism and morals

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The Most Significant Women in Angelas Ashes
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Angela

• Significance Role
• Teaches the family the Catholic religion
• Encourages Frank to join the church, complete the
  First Communion (127), and attend the
  Confraternity (173)
• Provides for the family by begging at
• Saint Vincent de Paul (63)
• Redemptorist Church (250)
• Dispensary (225)
• Provides as much care as she could with the
  ability and love that she had

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Aunt Aggie

• Significance Role
• Resents taking care of McCourt family, but
  displays loyalty by helping the children through
  tough times (241-248)
• Makes the children realize that Angela as a
  mother is not perfect, but better than Aunt Aggie
  
• Always rude and unpleasant (242)
• Uses corporal punishment against the McCourt kids

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The MacNamara Sisters

• Significance Role
• Angelas cousins who live in New York (15)
• Left Irish heritage to marry into well off
  families
• Married American men
• Greatly respected
• Bossy and Burly
• Believed in the One, Holy, Roman, Catholic and
  Apostolic Church.
• Made sure Angela was taken care of by making
  Malachy marry her

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Comparison of Significance

• Grandmother
• Strong influence in the familys lives
• Roots of the family
• Attempts to shape the children's morals and
  religion
• Holds them together

• Mrs. Leibowitz
• Not as strong of influence
• Supportive of family
• Watches over their general behavior
• Concerned for childrens well-being

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The End