In the text Angela's Ashes, one of the main characters, Frank McCourt, relies upon his male counter-parts to build and develop his own personal identity. Several important male role models influence Frank through out the chapters, although only a few have a strong lasting effect on Franks personality and lifestyle. The main influences are observed in assosiation with his father "Malachy", his friends "Paddy Clohessy" and such, his uncle Pa Keating and the fathers at his church. Each of these different people provides Frank with a different perspective and/or an ideology.
Franks first male role model encounter is of course with his father, Malachy, who teaches Frank a fair amount about the world he lives in. Malachy, being a typical Irishman, drinks his wages at the pub each Friday and Frank observes this keenly, Malachy does not allow himself to stoop to the self humiliation of begging, and shows Frank that a man should always have his dignity in whatever situation, and his dignity should be the last attribute to leave him, after his comfort and his own family. This attitude is shown by Malachy as Angela says to Frank, ' There's no use asking dad to go because he will never stoop that low and even if he did he wont carry things through the street.'. Malachy also teaches Frank, however primitively, of how to raise a family and the typical life of a man in Limerick, through a passive means. Malachy's contribution towards Franks identity is quite clear, and this is shown by Franks comprehension and respect of the legends such as Kevin Barry and Roddy Mcorley that he is taught of. Franks knowledge on how to raise a family primarily comes from Franks own initiative and observational abilities. Franks "Odd Manner" is also inherited by Malachy, which proves that Frank imitates Malachy's behaviour in at least one way.
The second most influential role model is debatable, simply because of the number of important influences and people that Frank encounters through out the text.
