Familial Influence
At the heart of “The Drunkard” is the relationship between Larry and his hard-drinking father, Mick. When their neighbor dies, Larry’s mother knows that Mick is likely to use the funeral as an excuse to drink, so she sends young Larry with his father, hoping his presence will deter Mick from drinking. Afterwards, though, Mick simply brings Larry to the bar, where Larry winds up drinking his father’s pint before Mick can have a…
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Judgment, Gossip, and Reputation
In the small town in which “The Drunkard” is set, everyone knows each other’s business. Friends, neighbors, and acquaintances gossip incessantly and judge their peers, taking pleasure in feeling superior to others. Mick Delaney is no exception; he constantly gossips with his neighbor Mr. Dooley, he passes hypocritical judgments on local drinkers, and when his irresponsible parenting leads his young son to get drunk, he is concerned for his own reputation, not Larry’s suffering…
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Innocence and Experience
Through Larry Delaney, O’Connor explores the interrelationship between innocence and experience. The story is essentially a tragedy told as a farce; the reader is invited to laugh at the “hilarious” behavior of the drunken Larry, an innocent who’s just had his first taste of alcohol. At the same time, however, the reader is also invited to remember that Larry’s innocence has been exploited by his mother, who has (unfairly) burdened him with the responsibility…
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