What would you say is the narrator's opinion of each gender, in general? He seems to be saying that women are one way, and that men are another. What differences does Jackie perceive? Give examples from the story to support your answers.
There are really only four characters to assess..... Jackie, his sister Nora, their grandmother, and the priest. Jackie is just a young boy..... he's an innocent, living with his sister and grandmother, who for the most part..... are really hard on him. Jackie, however, sees their actions as being far louder than their words. He is preparing for his first confession, and yet, he sees his grandmother and sister as very poor examples of their faith. His sister picks on him endlessly, uses their grandmother's money for things it shouldn't be paying for, and is perceived by her brother as dishonest. He also picks up on the fact that his sister is really good at hiding her actions with innocence and a smile.
Grandmother drank, favored Jackie's sister, and she suffered a snuff (tobacco) addiction that embarrassed Jackie.
The priest, is described as exactly what we would excpect from a priest..... he is discerning, a good listener, and able to see past the facade (specifically Nora's) to the truth.
In my opinion, though the women in the text seem to be far more troublesome than the men..... we have to remember that Jackie is a young boy. O'Connor's main character is young and innocent..... and this story isn't about gender..... it's about what we teach our children as opposed to what we show them. Children watch their elders, whether it be an older sister or a grandmother, and they weigh what they're taught against the examples set by the most important people in their lives..... their family.
First Confession
