Frank O'Connor's First Confession

‘Lest Ye Be Judged
Often in society, individuals feel it is appropriate to judge others before they are judged themselves. Frank O’Connor’s First Confession display’s the horror of a young boy’s initial acknowledgment of his sins. The main character, Jackie, must confess to what he believes are mortal sins to a priest, and he is certain he will be met with a dire fate. The reality of this situation is that Jackie is much more innocent than those who tell him he is sinful. His sister and grandmother are portrayed as devils in Jackie’s view. He is juxtaposed with the author’s own history, and these parallels can be seen between the two.
Frank O'Connor grew up in Ireland in the 1900's. His family was poor and his father an alcoholic who often sold the family's possessions for drinking money. O'Connor had a very close relationship with his mother, and much like Jackie, he saw his mother as the only protector in his life. Jackie was also very close with his mother,...