Family Unit Blog 3

"The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor

 5. The boy's drunkenness is seen from different perspectives. What are they, and how do they differ?

 The boy's drunkenness is seen from four different point of view: from his own point of view, his father's, the women on the street, and his mother's. The way he sees his drunkenness is the way he feels. He says, "...the wonderful thing about porter was the way it made you stand aside, or rather float aloft like a cherub rolling on a cloud, and watch yourself with your legs crossed, leaning against a bar counter, not worrying about trifles but thinking deep, serious, grown-up thoughts about life and death" (O'Connor 347). This passage also invokes a little bit of humor. I imagine a little boy sitting at the bar trying to look and act as adult as he can. He feels grown up when he drinks, which is also kind of sad. Another point of view is from the father. His point of view is sort of "Oh my god, what have I done?" I think he is thinking to himself that he is the reason his son is this way and he feels terrible about it. The women on the street just kind of laugh and think it is so funny watching a little boy with two completely sober grown men carrying him down the street because he can't even walk. This also evokes a little sense of humor. The last perspective is of the mother. She too is saying, "Oh my god" but it is in a good way. She is thankful that this is going to turn her husband's behavior around and make him not such an alcoholic. It is ironic that it took his little son to become extremely sick and drunk in order to teach his father that he shouldn't drink so much and so often.