The short story First Confession is about a problem, which is very relevant to be occupied with in our contemporary society. It gives an evidently picture of the situation, most families more or less would end up in, if a grandmother suddenly moved in. In this story the grandmother does not exactly recede into the background. She breaks many of the family's moral standards, and when the father sides with her, it divides the family. The grandmother's moving in develops into quite a challenge for the family's youngest child, who in addition to his unbearable grandmother, also has his first confession to contend with.
The story takes place in Ireland in all probability. To begin with the majority of the population in Ireland are Catholics, and therefore it would be a naturally place to set the story. Secondly Frank O"Connor is one of the well-known Irish authors, and the story can very well be a incident from his own life and native country. .
The story is probably set in newer time. In former times it would not create this amount of difficulties if a grandmother moved in. Then there was more mutual respect between young and older people. The fact that both parents have jobs outside home, also indicates that the story takes place in newer time. But in theory the story is universal. It has probably always and will probably always create a certain amount of problems, when a new person suddenly steps into a family. .
The main person in the short story is the young boy Jackie, who is 7 or 8 years old. He is the one, who is suffering most from the situation, his grandmother has caused. When his friends are visiting him, he makes excuses not to let them into the house. He does not want them to see his grandmother drinking or behaving in a foolish way. The grandmother is the main reason, why he sins. Among other things she makes him feel greedy, because she gives Nora money, without giving Jackie any.