"The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor

     There is a very significant irony in the short story "The Drunkard" by Frank O'Connor.  The principal irony is that the mom is happy that her child is drunk because he prevented his father from drinking because there was no beer left to drink.  This is ironic because most parents would be mortified if there kids had been drinking let alone drunk.  But, the mother in this story says, " 'My brave little man!' she said with her eyes shining.  'It was God did it you were there.  You were his guardian angel,' " (O'Connor, 351).  The mother praises her child for drinking the alcohol she forced him to drink.  Although she stopped her husband from drinking, she forced her son to drink.  She may have also caused her son to think that it's okay to drink excessively.  Another irony in this short story is that the child has an insight to the adult world and points out a large flaw in it.  The child says that beer doesn't even taste good.  This illuminates the fact that his father drinks for the feeling not the taste.  The child pointed out this fallacy and realizes it is wrong when the adults could not.