Many people believe that the importance of family is crucial. The memoir Angela's Ashes is written by Frank McCourt. It examines the poor upbringing and relationships within the McCourt family during the 1930s. Through the use of descriptive language, dialogue, and characterization, it supports and opposes various values, including the importance of family and its impact on the relationships described in the memoir. Family should be of the utmost importance. Through the use of characterization, Frank McCourt questions the importance of his family unit through the use of his selfish actions. In the text, the father gets his first job and “Mom is happy”. Frank Senior does the right thing by finding a job to support his family. In 1930, in Ireland, Friday was payday “Mommy is out of bed…cleans…and sings”. This explicitly shows that the mother is a traditional housewife who is happy not to have to rely on charity. However, later in the text, Mom has cooked dinner and is waiting for Frank to come home, but Frank doesn't come home until well after the meal....