also a major character in the book because it is the
             reason things are as hard for the family as they are. The town is a poor community that has more
             people than it does jobs. It is this reason it is hard for Frank's dad to find work. The alcoholism
             suffered by his father makes him an extremely unreliable and undesirable employee. Frank's
             father, Malachy McCourt is the main reason, other than the state of world depression, the family
             suffers through poverty. Malachy feels badly for his alcoholic binges, but seems unable or
             unwilling to changes his life for the sake of his family. Frank's mother, Angela is a good mother
             for the time. She cares deeply for her children and struggles throughout the whole book to try and
             see they have anything at all. She walks the roads in search of coal at one point so she can have a
             fire to warm their home. Frank has six siblings. Four of his
             ...