The Man of The House - Notes (Autosaved)

The Man of the House by
Frank O’Connor
Summary
• This short story shares the childhood experience of Gus Sullivan who has
a sick mother. Sullivan is initially unconcerned about his mother’s illness,
and mildly pleased, because he got to stay home and play at being the
‘man of the house’. However, his initial delight changes to concern on
the second day due to his fear that his mother has pneumonia. The
second night and the third day are even more frightening because he had
to fetch the doctor and travel to the North Dispensary to get her
medication. At the dispensary he meets a young girl who tricks him into
drinking, and sharing the medicine, with the result being an empty
bottle to take home to his mother. Sullivan suffers extreme guilt as a
result of this and goes home crying. His mother consoles him and
forgives his childish misdemeanor.
• In The Man of the House by Frank O’Connor we have the theme of
innocence, temptation, guilt, responsibility, control, resilience,
redemption and acceptance.
• The story is narrated in the first person by a man called Gus
Sullivan who is looking back at an incident in his life when he was
ten years old. It is also after reading the story that the reader
realizes that O’Connor may be exploring the theme of
responsibility.
THEMES
• Love & family relationship

This is shown in the relationship between the mother and her son.
Sullivan is frightened that his mother will die of pneumonia, so, despite
his fear, he enters a public house (pub) in order to ensure that she gets
her home-made remedy, and travels to an unsavory neighbourhood in
order to get her medicine. The mother is equally devoted to her son, as
seen in her guilt over the fact that he has to take care of her. She is also
very understanding when he succumbs to the peer pressure of drinking
her medicine. She understands that one cannot expect a child to be a
man, no matter how well he does at playing at being a man. Her love for
her child is also manifested in the pride she feels when he displays the
level of maturity akin to an adult.
Innocence
• The fact that Sullivan does not recognize that his new friend is
using him for a taste of his cough syrup proves that he is still an
innocent young man, at least in relation to the ways of the world.
Despite playing at being a man, he is still an innocent child. His
reaction, after realizing that he was used, also points to his
innocence.
Childhood Experience - Responsibility
• Gus tries on several occasions to act older than his years:

• He lights the fire in the house. He does the shopping for his
mother and he goes to the dispensary to get the medication for his
mother. However it is noticeable that while he is at the dispensary
Gus does end up drinking his mother’s medication. Which leads to
Gus feeling not only guilty but struggling with his conscience.
• Gus without knowing it seems to be dictating or ordering his
mother. It is him telling her what to do. Which may again play on
how the female was treated by the male at the time the story was
written. By having Gus tell the reader that ‘It’s funny about
women, the way they’ll take orders from anything in trousers.’
O’Connor may be highlighting how dominated women may have
been (by men) at the time the story was written.
• Gus spent his day in an adult world. A world which he may not
realise is dysfunctional. As to why it is dysfunctional is left to
each individual reader to decide. Gus just appears to be happy
that he is a child again. A happy and innocent child who has yet to
fully learn of the complexities of life. Though he does accept that
he is not a good nurse.
Men in Society
O’Connor throughout the story paints a negative picture of the male

characters in the story:
The man in the bar is seen as a drunk but also as an irresponsible buffoon.
With no real connection with the world.
Throughout the story, O’Connor comments on male in a particular society who
have abandoned their roles.
• Additionally, like the other males, Gus has weakness. The fact that Gus is tempted by the
young girl at the dispensary to drink his mother’s medication is also important as not only is
it the first occasion in the story in whereby Gus lets himself down. But O’Connor may be
drawing on the biblical story of Adam and Eve (and the apple) in the Garden of Eden. Prior to
taking the medication Gus’ concentration levels and his desire to do the right thing for his
mother were high. Things were going well for him and he was acting responsibly. It is only
when he becomes enamored with the girl that he loses concentration and forgets what his
intentions really are.
• It is also noticeable that for such a young boy the guilt becomes
unbearable for Gus. Not only does he feel he has let his mother
down but he also feels guilty because he won’t be able to pay for
a candle in the Cathedral. Having spent the money on sweets (for
the girl).
• The further highlights the great weight and responsibility of being
“The man of the house.”
Discussion Questions
• “Innocence lost can never be gained,” how true is this statement

in the story “Man of the House?”
• The lack of a father figure affects the emotional growth of a child.
How is this shown in the story “Man of the House”?
• A child brought up in a broken family will face difficulty growing
up? How true is this statement in the story

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How does Gus' view of his responsibility change throughout the story?

What themes are explored in the story?

The Man of the House by

• Love & family relationship

• Gus tries on several occasions to act older than his years:

O’Connor throughout the story paints a negative picture of the male

• “Innocence lost can never be gained,” how true is this statement

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