Comparative analysis of two short stories

Man of the House by Frank O’Connor

Sullivan is a little boy of ten years. It’s a small family of two persons with meager means. The mother is working and the son like any other boy of his age goes to school. He is a loving son and for the mother her son is as good as gold itself.

SUMMARY
The story starts with a terrible sound of constant coughing of the sick mother which wakes up the little boy and he runs downstairs to look into the matter. There he finds his mother in a critical condition collapsing in an armchair holding her sides. Totally distressed she was trying to light a fire to make tea for the boy but the smoke generated by the wet sticks worsened her cough. Worried son immediately takes charge of everything. He stops her from going to work and makes her lie in the bed.

Dutiful Sullivan makes tea and toast for her. He immediately decides that instead of going to school he would stay at home to look after his mother and mind home affairs. Systematic boy heats up another kettle of water and cleans up the breakfast mess. Then he comes to his mother to make a list to shop for dinner. Caring Sullivan is worried and wants to call a doctor for his mother but thrifty mother declines his wish as she is afraid that the doctor would send her to hospital. To cheer up the frightened son the affectionate mother tries to pretend that she is fit and fine but their neighbor Miss Minnie Ryan has all the doubts that she might be suffering from pneumonia. She advises him to give his mother some hot whiskey mixed with a squeeze of lemon in it to comfort her.

Determined Sullivan goes to the public house for the first time to get whiskey. Although scared he does not lose courage and overcomes his fear. Whiskey does not work that well and whole night depressed Sullivan could not sleep due to the terrible coughing of his mother. She keeps on rambling badly while talking. In the morning bewildered Sullivan heads to call the doctor from the distant dispensary. Before that he goes to get a ticket from the house of a Poor Law Guardian to save the doctor’s fees. The organized boy tidies the house and keeps ready the basin of water, soap and a clean towel for the doctor. Much to their relief the doctor doesn’t advise to hospitalize the mother instead he prescribes a cough syrup for her.

Reliant Sullivan’s sincerity and concern earns all the praise of Miss Ryan and the doctor for him. Again the poor boy sets off with a bottle to get the medicine from the dispensary situated at a distant place. On the way he comes across a cathedral. With complete devotion he prays for his mother’s quick recovery in his heart and makes up his mind to spend his only penny to light a candle in the church when he would finish his task. At dispensary he meets a little girl Dooley who has come to get medicine for her sister. The girl is very clever and talkative. Anguished Sullivan enjoys her company after going through such terrible times. On way back the innocent boy spends his penny on sweets which they both enjoyed. Dooly is a cunning girl. She incites Sullivan to taste the sweet cough syrup of his mother. Confused boy gives way to temptation. Both of them relish it immensely. When the entire medicine is consumed confused Sullivan realizes his fault. He begins to panic and starts crying. Dooly misleads him to tell a lie that the cork fell out.

Repentant Sullivan is full of remorse and guilt feeling. He fears that because of his negligence his mother would not get well. Panicked Sullivan prays the Virgin Mary to do some miracle to save his mother. He gets back home totally broken and shattered. Mother is alarmed to see him howl. She hugs and consoles him passionately. Truthful and honest Sullivan confesses his crime. The forgiving mother shrugs it off. The tired boy falls fast asleep under the intoxication of the medicine. With the grace of God the miracle happens and Sullivan wakes up to find his mother smiling and recovered.

ANALYSIS

The story is written in autobiographical mode. The language of the text is rich and descriptive. The content of the story is based on the delicate relationship of a mother and son. The marathon efforts of the little boy to make his ailing mother comfortable fill the hearts of the readers with compassion and sympathy. The childish act of drinking the medicine of his mother by the kids is the climax of the story. Along with the boy the readers too get nervous that what is going to happen now. The plot of the story is binding.

The title of the story is very appropriate. Having his mother ill the small boy takes up the whole responsibility to attend her and mind the household. He does everything that an adult person would have done to manage the situation. Even he goes to pub to get whiskey for his mother although he was scared to see the ruffians there. He acts like a mature person taking all the wise decisions to help his mother get well soon. That is why he is aptly called ‘The Man of the House’.

In The Man of the House by Frank O’Connor we have the theme of innocence, temptation, guilt, responsibility, control, resilience, redemption and acceptance. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by a man called Gus Sullivan who is looking back at an incident in his life when he was ten years old. It is also after reading the story that the reader realises that O’Connor may be exploring the theme of responsibility. Gus tries on several occasions to act older than his years. He lights the fire in the house. He does the shopping for his mother and he goes to the dispensary to get the medication for his mother. However it is noticeable that while he is at the dispensary Gus does end up drinking his mother’s medication. Which leads to Gus feeling not only guilty but struggling with his conscience. It is also interesting that O’Connor throughout the story looks unfavourably on most of the male characters in the story. The man in the bar comes across as not only been a drunk but also as an irresponsible buffoon. With no real connection with the world. This may be deliberate as O’Connor may be attacking the male dominated society that existed in Ireland at the time the story was written.

The fact that Gus is tempted by the young girl at the dispensary to drink his mother’s medication is also important as not only is it the first occasion in the story in whereby Gus lets himself down. But O’Connor may be drawing on the biblical story of Adam and Eve (and the apple) in the Garden of Eden. Prior to taking the medication Gus’ concentration levels and his desire to do the right thing for his mother were high. Things were going well for him and he was acting responsibly. It is only when he becomes enamoured with the girl that he loses concentration and forgets what his intentions really are. It is also noticeable that for such a young boy the guilt becomes unbearable for Gus. Not only does he feel he has let his mother down but he also feels guilty because he won’t be able to pay for a candle in the Cathedral. Having spent the money on sweets (for the girl). The fact that Gus can’t say his prayer and light a candle in the Cathedral may also be important as O’Connor may be putting a spotlight on the Church and the practice of paying for prayers.

The only thing stopping Gus from going to the Cathedral and lighting the candle is the fact that the Church has an expectation (at times) that an individual pays for their prayer. Something which Gus has most likely been taught. How influential the Church is (at the time the story was written) is noticeable by the fact that Gus adheres to the principles of paying for his prayers and doesn’t go to the Cathedral to light the candle. Based solely on the fact that he has no money. If anything Gus may feel trapped by the conditions imposed on him by the Church. Conditions which would seem to be more about the Church making money rather than assisting the individual. It is also possible that O’Connor is using the candle (and prayer) as symbolism for hope. If this is the case it is noticeable at the end of the story that Gus feels a miracle has happened. His mother has gotten better without the need of the candle or prayer. Which may be important as O’Connor could again be putting a spotlight on the Church. Possibly questioning again the practice of paying for candles (or prayers). When there may be no need to.

What is also interesting about the story is that though Gus’ mother is poorly. She does not scorn Gus when he returns from the dispensary. Instead she takes care of him. Thinking of Gus rather than of herself. Gus’ mother is also resilient. When Gus first sees that his mother is sick, she smiles at him. This may be important as not only does it suggest that Gus’ mother doesn’t want to upset Gus but she also is displaying an exterior toughness. She won’t be beaten by what life throws at her. Regardless of the circumstances she might find herself in. It may also be important that when Gus takes control of the situation, when his mother is in bed, rather than it being Gus who is writing down what needs to be done. It is his mother who is doing the writing.  Gus without knowing it seems to be dictating or ordering his mother. It is him telling her what to do. Which may again play on how the female was treated by the male at the time the story was written. By having Gus tell the reader that ‘It’s funny about women, the way they’ll take orders from anything in trousers.’ O’Connor may be highlighting how dominated women may have been (by men) at the time the story was written.

The end of the story is also interesting. Gus feels that a miracle has happened when he wakes up and discovers that his mother is better. It is also noticeable that Gus has redeemed himself. He has told his mother the truth about what has happened. Hiding nothing from her. If anything he is closer to his mother. Gus also realises that he is too young for responsibility and that it is better if someone else takes on that role. His one attempt at being responsible, though good natured, was not successful. He was led to temptation, suffered guilt and because of the practices of the church (paying for prayers) was unable to say the prayers that he wanted to for his mother.  Gus spent his day in an adult world. A world which he may not realise is dysfunctional. As to why it is dysfunctional is left to each individual reader to decide. Gus just appears to be happy that he is a child again. A happy and innocent child who has yet to fully learn of the complexities of life. Though he does accept that he is not a good nurse.

The Day the World Almost Came to An End- notes

SUMMARY

This short story was told from the perspective of an adult and chronicles the events behind a child’s (the adult narrator) belief that the world was about to end. The story is set on a plantation in Louisiana in 1936, where the church was the axis around which plantation life revolved. Despite this fact, the narrator was holding on to being a sinner because she believed that she could not ‘live upright’. One day, while she was playing, her cousin Rena informed her that the world was coming to an end. This was based on a conversation that Rena overheard, and misunderstood, about the eclipse. The hellfire sermons in church did not help to stem the narrator’s mounting panic and she worried herself into a frazzle as a result. She had a conversation with her father about this issue and he tried to quell her fears, but unfortunately, he only managed to increase it with his statement that the world could come to an end at any time. The narrator spent the night conjuring images of dooms day, which led to her overreaction to hearing the rumblings of an old airplane. She ran out of her house screaming that the world was coming to an end. Her father caught her on the road and calmed her down. She appreciated life a lot more after that incident and lived her life to the fullest.

SETTING

The story occurs on a plantation in Louisiana in 1936.

CHARACTERS

Daddy:

• Understanding
• Has a good relationship with his daughter

1st person narrator:

• Imaginative
• Bold
• Naive 

Rena:

• Naive

THEMES

Religion:

This is the central theme in this short story. Plantation life was centered on religion to the extent that even the narrator’s father was a deacon in the church. Religious fervor, in the form of hellfire preaching, is also the fuel for the panic that overtakes the narrator/protagonist in this short story.

Love & Family Relationship:

The love and trust between father and daughter is glaring. When the narrator/protagonist was worried about the world coming to an end, the first person that she thought to consult on this issue was her father. His response to her childish fears, in turn, highlights the easy relationship between the two. Daddy’s care in covering his daughter after her mad dash through the turnrow is also an indication of the love that he has for his child.

Innocence

Man of the House

by

Frank O'Connor

Study Guide

General Questions:

	What is the general plot of the story?
	Who are some of the major characters of the story?
	Who are some of the minor characters of the story?
	The story is written in the ___________________ point of view?
	What is the setting of the story?

Analytical questions: (use clear evidence to prove your response)

1.       What family role has Sullivan taken in the beginning of the story?

2.       How is Sullivan playing his role and is he suitable for the role he has taken?

3.       Why does Sullivan’s mother feel guilty for asking Sullivan’s help?

4.       How does Sullivan feel about his mother? Does he need her or finds her a nuisance?

5.       How do you think Sullivan feels about going to school?

6.       Can you show any evidence of Sullivan having any early childhood characteristics?

7.       Is there any evidence that Sullivan fears that his mother would die?

8.       Give some evidence that Sullivan is torn between being a child and a grown up? (being irresponsible/ being responsible)

9.       What promise does Sullivan make to the church and why can he not fulfill his promise?

10.   What family role does the mother play at the beginning of the story and does this role change at the end?

11.   What is Sullivan’s first name?

In text analysis:

1.       “I wasn’t a malicious child, by any means, but I liked to be able to take out my comforts and study them by the light of other’s misfortunes.” What does Sullivan mean by this statement?

2.       “Write it down,” I said. “If I haven’t it written down, I might forget it. And put “strong” in big letters. What will I get for dinner? Eggs?”

Why does Sullivan order his mother to write down her requests and why does Sullivan decide on eggs? What can you say about Sullivan’s tone of voice?

3.       When Sullivan passes his school on the way to the chemist he says, “I went up a short distance and stood there for ten minutes in quiet contemplation.”

He continues by saying, “I could have stood there all day. Of al the profound and simple pleasures of those days, that was the richest.”

Why do you think Sullivan is contemplating about and why does he talk about school as if it is a thing of the past?

4.       Why does Sullivan regret that he did not ask the man at the pub for half a crown? Who gave him the idea and why did he not ask at that time?

5.       Why was Sullivan upset when the doctor says, “We don’t mind them when we have them,’ he added, to my mother ‘and then we spend the rest of our lives regretting it.”

What does the doctor mean by this and why did Sullivan hope that the doctor had not said such a thing?

6.       ‘She might have consumption,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘That’s what my sister that died last year had. This is a tonic for my other sister. She has to have tonics all the time. Is it nice where you live?’

What is the little girl’s impression of illness and death? Does she think tonics work?

7.       “I have a penny,” I said boastfully?

Why does Sullivan announce his wealth?

8.       Why is Sullivan swept into the temptation of drinking up the cough mixture?

9.       Why does Sullivan cry when he drinks up all the cough mixture? Who does he blame?

10.   Why did the sunlight, that Sullivan felt would have made him happy later become a dark, “vast, alien, cruel world.”

11.   Why did Sullivan tell the truth to his mother even though he first says, “He lost the medicine”? Why did he not take the girl’s advice and lie?

12.   What do you think is the significance of the cathedral and what Sullivan hoped to do on his way back? Why does Sullivan feel guilty that he had spent his one-penny on sweets and not to light a candle for the Virgin Mary?

Analytical Questions:

	Innocence lost can never be gained. How true is this statement in the story “Man of the House?”
	Children are very sensitive towards how the adults around them see and treat them. Using the story “Man of the House” show how this statement is true.  \
	Children seem to emulate their parents and behave according to how their parents behave towards them. How true is this statement in the story “Man of the house?”
	The lack of a father figure affects the emotional growth of a child. How is this shown in the story “Man of the House”?
	A child brought up in a fragmented family will face difficulty growing up? How true is this statement in the story “Man of   the House”?