Overcoming Fear in Frank O’Connor’s First Confession Essay -- First Co

Overcoming Fear in stark(a) OConnors First ConfessionWord Count includes precise outlineDavid W. Madden believes several of Frank OConnors stories reflect his personal life and goals. Jackie, the young protagonist, in the First Confession, loves his mother as every bit as OConnor loved his mother. Madden also believes OConnor should have selected a religious calling because the priests mentioned in his stories incorporate the instrumental impact on the laitys lives (3227). Understanding women, contributed by his mothers influence, frequently are displayed in OConnors writings. Madden feels that some of OConnors stories focus on nave, sensitive figures who struggle with what seems to them the insoluble mysteries of existence, such as childrens journey through life (3227-28). The apologue reinforces the theme that a child overcoming a fear of the unknown can enhance his sense of confidence.The plot of First Confession is about a young boy, Jackie, trying to capture the terror of te lling his starting signal confession. Jackies problems begin when his grandmother comes to live at the house. He detests her for being an alcoholic, slovenly ill-mannered woman. Most of all, Jackie is upset that he is excluded from the penny allowance that his sister, Nora, gets. Because his sister and grandmother side against him, Jackies life becomes intolerable. Jackie is preparing to receive his First Penance and First Holy Communion. Mrs. Ryan, the religion education find outer, projects a negative image to Jackie about confessing his sins. She is a woman who only spoke of Hell and mentioned Heaven only by accident. Jackie feels she is a lady where Hell had the first place in her heart (176). Mrs. Ryan entices the children with money to stick their finger in the flame of a candle. She associates this with burning in Hell. An example is a horrid story about a man who makes a bad confession. The man wakes a priest in the middle of the night insisting he make a confession. After the priest is dressed, the man is gone only to leave behind his handprints burned into the sheets. Jackie is forced to go to confession with his wicked sister, Nora. When it is Jackies turn to go into the confessional, he is so nervous that he kneels on the armrest. Consequently, he slips and plunges out the door. Nora is embarrassed and begins to smack him. As soon as the priest sees... ...3.Mrs. Ryan is trying to teach the children to live a faithful life, not to be afraid of confessing.VIII.To defeat the terror of the unknown increases ones self- assuranceWorks CitedBowden, Curtis. Synopses and Quick Critiques. Frank OConnor New Perspectives. Eds. Robert C. Evans and Richard Harp. West Cornwall, CT. locust Hill, 1988. 297-350.Denio, Megan L. The Child In, Around and of Father Fogarty. Frank OConnor New Perspectives. Eds. Robert C. Evans and Richard Harp. West Cornwall, CT. Locust Hill, 1988. 139-147.Evans, Robert C. and Katie Magaw. Irony and Paradox in Frank OConnors Style. F rank OConnor New Perspectives. Eds. Robert C. Evans and Richard Harp. West Cornwall, CT. Locust Hill, 1988. 149-155.Madden, David W. First Confession/ OConnor. Masterplots II 8. Ed. Frank N. Magill. Pasadena, CA. Salem Press, 1996. 3226-3228.OConnor, Frank. First Confession. Frank OConnor Collected Stories. New York Vintage Books, 1982. 175-182.Werber, Owene. A Womans Voice Speaking. Frank OConnor New Perspectives. Eds. Robert C. Evans and Richard Harp. West Cornwall, CT. Locust Hill, 1988. 121-350.