Independant Reading Blog#8: 'Tis - Themes

There are three major themes in Frank McCourt's memoir 'Tis, all of which have to deal with personal advancement, or barriers blocking the way for personal advancement.
The first theme is the importance of education. Education, a thing which McCourt has precious little of upon arrival in New York, soon becomes his main priority. This is because he recognizes that if he does not gain academic knowledge, he will not be able to get a good enough non-labour job that will support him. Throughout the first part of the book, McCourt is fascinated with the University students he sees on the buses and subways around the city. Once he graduates, he becomes a teacher, because he realizes the importance of passing on his own knowledge.
The second theme is racism/classism. McCourt is constantly struggling against the racist society of the 1950's. Even though he is white, and going to college, his Irish accent gives him away as a foreigner, and even his professors make remarks about his "brogue". It is usually not an overt or aggresive racism, such as it is for the blacks in the book, although it does sometimes take the form of an insult accompanied by the term "mick". It is usually implied, but just enough to let the person know they're different. This leads to the Irish experienced with New York giving the advice to the new arrivals "keep to your own kind".
The third theme in 'Tis is the importance of hard work. The point is made that if one works hard enough, one can get anything they want. Minor characters in the book give examples of Irishmen who came to America young, worked hard their entire life, and saved up their money, and retired home to Ireland rich. McCourt also works hard to get where he does, working two jobs at a time, on top of going to school. When he teaches, he has to work during the summer in order to sustain himself. But he does well for himself in the end, and that might be to act as incentive for readers to work hard, or at least to understand the importance of hard work.