First Confession

First Confession


In the short story, First Confession, by Frank O’Connor, the main character, a little boy, named Jackie is troubled with the idea of making his first confession to a priest in the Catholic church. Jackie is troubled because of the religious confusion he has stemming from how he is being taught about his first confession and the actions of his sister. The theme of the story is religious hypocrisy which is seen in the instruction of Mrs. Ryan, Jackie’s religious instructor and Jackie’s personal relationship with his sister.
First of all, the theme of religious hypocrisy is supported by Mrs. Ryan’s “hellfire and brimstone” teaching methods. Mrs. Hale is an older women who is teaching Jackie and his classmates, who are around the age of 7 or 8, about there first confession and how to go about doing it. Mrs. Ryan uses the technique of discussing the punishment of sin rather then the rewards of confession, which confusing young Jackie. Ja...