Like Father, Like Son

"The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor

In "The Drunkard", Father is a hard working, caring parent of two boys that saves money diligently in order to get ahead in life.  However, Father's hubris, his alcoholism, drains any excess income he makes and prevents him from achieving his goals.  Therefore, when Mr. Dooley, Father's good friend, dies, Mother becomes concerned because she knows Dooley's funeral will give Father ample opportunity to embrace his vice.  Accordingly, she sends her son, Larry, with Father to ensure his hubris does not consume him.  As one could expect, Father and Larry end up at a pub following Dooley's funeral.  When Father has his back turned, Larry downs his glass of porter out of curiosity and the humor begins.  Utilizing stream of consciousness, O'Connor displays the deterioration of Larry's sobriety with phrases like, "I felt pleasantly philosophic," which transform into, "I found it hard to put back the glass, the counter seemed to have grown so high," (O'Connor 347).  Realizing his son's inebriation, Father guides Larry out of the pub and toward home.  Once home, Father endures Mother's invective against him for allowing Larry to reach his current state.  However, Mother actually feels pride and affection for what her son has done.  Inadvertently, Larry prevented Father from succumbing to his hubris by consuming the alcohol first.  Thus, Larry did just what Mother intended him to do.  Quite humorously, Mother describes Larry as Father's "guardian angel" (O'Connor 351).  How fitting that a drunkard's guardian angel protects him by drinking his booze!