Genre
Autobiography
Setting and Context
The action described in the story takes place near Boston over the course of a few years.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator in the story is MacDonald and he presents the story from the perspective of a first-person subjective point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone in the story is a tense one.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is MacDonald and the antagonist is Whitey Bulger.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is an internal one and is between the pull which illegal activities have and the desire to do what is right.
Climax
The autobiography reaches its climax when the narrator's family falls apart.
Foreshadowing
Frankie's death is foreshadowed at the beginning of the story when the narrator describes the way in which Frankie seems to be naturally attracted to the criminal element in his community.
Understatement
At the beginning of the story, MacDonald claims that he is part of a normal family. This is later proven to be an understatement when the narrator mentions all the problems his family is facing and the fact that there are many members in his family who suffer from serious mental health problems.
Allusions
The roach infestation present in the house where the narrator lives is used here to make allusion to the idea that his family lacks morals and is depraved.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
One of the main paradoxes presented in the story is the idea that even though MacDonald lives in an extremely violent place, he feels safe and protected.
Parallelism
A parallel is drawn between the children living in the suburbs and the children living inside the city. The parallel is used here to transmit the idea that a good education and having both parents is extremely important for a person's development.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Food is used in this story as a general term through which the narrator makes reference to the idea of love.
Personification
We have a personification in the line "the smoke embraced everyone lovingly".
