First Confession
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The main character in the short story "First Confession," written by Frank O'Connor, is a young Catholic boy named Jackie. Another key character in the story is the priest. "First Confession" is the story of a young boy as he prepares to go to his first confession. He has to confront his fear of making a "bad" confession and in his journey; he meets a very pivotal person that will become a mainstay in his life, the priest. By exhibiting wisdom, offering relief, and providing comfort the priest helps Jackie open a new chapter in his life.
Upon meeting Jackie, the priest showed wisdom too. Once the priest saw whom it was that caused the commotion he told Jackie "'wait now until I'm finished with the old ones"' (334), knowing that a child that young was nervous about their first confession. Throughout Jackie's confession, the priest realizes how important it was to be serious but gentle while helping him give a proper confession. The priest formed a friendship with Jackie before re-entering the confessional. He knew that he would be more likely to open up to a friend than to someone he views as being like "the cackle of old women and girls with their talk of hell, the bishop, and penitential psalms" (334) that he had been exposed to prior to meeting him...