Alcoholism in Family Narratives

The author's father drank compulsively, secretly, in pain, and trembling.

The author's father's death at the age of sixty-four.

To explore the impact of his father's alcoholism on his family and to understand his own struggle with the legacy of his father's addiction.

<p>A complex mix of love, hatred, and fear.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Nobody</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author learned the corrosive mixture of helplessness, responsibility, and shame that comes with being the child of an alcoholic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a torture victim who refuses to squeal, suggesting that he was consumed by shame and denial about his addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author feels guilt and confusion because he realizes that he could not have caused or cured his father's alcoholism, yet he still carries the burden of responsibility.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>family</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author argues that alcoholism is usually portrayed in popular culture in a humorous and lighthearted way, which is inaccurate and diminishes the true pain and suffering it causes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Some people in the audience might appear grim because they have personal experience with alcoholism, and the jokes and stereotypes about drunks can be painful and triggering.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that his father never admitted to his drinking because he was consumed by shame and denial and was afraid of the consequences of acknowledging his addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a coward, a bully, a bumbler, and ultimately, a frog. This highlights the profound transformation that alcohol caused in his father's personality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's family kept his father's drinking a secret, and they rarely spoke about it. This emphasizes the shame and secrecy that often surround alcoholism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author argues that the effects of alcoholism, like the effects of malaria, can linger long after the crisis has passed, leaving behind lingering shame and anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that as he learned more about alcoholism, he learned to feel pity and compassion toward the drinker, but also anger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that religious texts often condemn drunkenness and suggest that it is a sin that will prevent people from entering heaven. He notes how this emphasis on sin made it difficult for him and his family to understand his father's addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says that religious texts emphasized the idea that the sins of the fathers could have an impact on the children, which added to the sense of guilt and responsibility he felt for his father's alcoholism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father's drinking created a chaotic and unpredictable environment in the home, making it a dangerous and frightening place for the children.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Trying to control her husband's drinking by hiding alcohol or monitoring his spending.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father to a minefield, suggesting that even the smallest bump could trigger a volatile reaction as he was increasingly unpredictable and dangerous.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father used mints to mask the smell of alcohol on his breath.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's family watched over their father when he was driving because they were afraid he might stop at a liquor store and buy more alcohol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author disliked the Gallo Brothers because he associated their wine labels with his father's drinking, blaming them for his father's addiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>When drunk, the author's father became clumsy, cowardly, and could not fix simple things such as a bicycle tire. He also turned into a bully, a bumbler, and even a danger to himself and others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author says the most frightening thing about his father when drunk was the unpredictability of his rage, which is a manifestation of the volatile nature of alcoholism. It often made his father unpredictable, dangerous, and hard to reason with.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father ended up in the ditch, in the hospital, and in jail. He was unable to work, take care of himself, or live a normal life.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author compares his father's transformation to the fictional characters who undergo dramatic metamorphoses, such as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, or a werewolf. He likens his father's drinking to a supernatural possession or demonic influence, further emphasizing the transformative power of alcohol.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's father died from his alcoholism, as he was unable to control his drinking and its negative impact on his health.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author's son feels responsible for his father's depression and believes that he should be able to fix it.</p> Signup and view all the answers