No Shame in the Gallagher's Game

While cable television remains flooded by cookie-cutter presentations of American life, Shameless offers viewers a look into the lives of a pragmatic lower-class, urban family. The Gallaghers are a ruthless bunch that live to defy the odds of social class hierarchy. Through all of the alcohol-induced chaos, endorsed by the hilarious patriarch, Frank, the kids somehow manage to keep the house standing and the love near.

Try not to be repelled by the hawrsh setting or the cahrazy accents because Shameless is an abstract work of art with storylines that anybody can relate to. The family’s suffering financial status is symbolic of mutual hardship, and their actions are meaningful portrayals of how to overcome strife and have raunchy fun while doing so. Nancy Botwin is probably cringing at the sight of the Gallagher’s run-down city cinder block, but there is something warm and familiar about their quaint home. The basic façade and dated furniture transports the mind back to a child-like innocence when appearance, and material, was obsolete.

Through this lens, we see each character’s raw persona. Frank is the unpredictable alcoholic father that continually creates obstacles for his family. He is the antithesis of a supportive, present parental-figure, yet I cannot help but laugh at every despicable word that spews out of his mouth. We all know an individual like this. The one who speaks his mind a little too freely with no regard to his surroundings. And for some reason, that kind of vocal spirit just translates wonderfully when we see him sitting alone at the only bar he is still allowed into, “The Alibi Room.” He speaks with real American grit and valor! Meanwhile, the rest of the Gallaghers have completely juxtaposed opinions on the well-being of their father. For they are forced to lead very risky lives on and off the streets. Oh, but they do it all in the most impressive ways…

Fiona, the oldest daughter, has taken on the role of mother to her five younger siblings, as Monica, the actual mother, is off in a confused state trying to figure out what the hell she wants in life. Fiona is a strong feminine energy. She is the necessary glue to her poverty-struck family. Her voice of intense reason is often the guiding force of the unusual solutions that the Gallaghers enact to overcome scuffles like overdue bills and intruding parents. Fiona runs the whole operation, and she will go to any length to prove her physical and emotional endurance.

Phillip, or Lip, is the street-smart genius. His unwavering loyalty to protect his family lays a beautiful contrast over such of his father’s. Lip is the guardian of the home, and he protrudes that patriarchal sense of security that is so desperately lacking from Frank’s livelihood. We feel an undying empathy towards Lip because he is such an honest and diligent character. Protecting the ones we love, family or not, is human responsibility. Lip knows exactly what he needs in order to exist happily, and that is ensuring his family’s safety from the toxic environment they are emerged in. A commendable man he is for sacrificing his academic prospects for an unwarranted placement in the war against Frank. The connection made with Lip is one like with our own older siblings or any individual that has enabled comfort in our lives, against all odds.

Of course, there has to be a black sheep in the Gallagher family. Ian is the second oldest brother. He is the escapist that feels misunderstood. Often, he can be found having sex with his married male convenient store boss or training in the JROTC. Ian captivates the quiet but devious side of the mind. He is a middle child and is constantly put on the defensive because he has differing plans for the direction of his life. Burdened by the fumbling stability of his family, he tries to create a balance within himself. He represents the motivated pursuer that dwells within us at times when opposition is strongest.

The next two Gallaghers serve a noteworthy role in the display of poverty on Shameless. Their conceptions are described as mishaps that occurred during the brief, psychosis-driven reunions that Frank and Monica would have throughout their separation. But Debbie and Carl are magnificent examples of the random and varied outcomes of children from low-income families. Debbie is hospitable and always eager to lend a helping hand. She is smart and reminds us that love is sometimes about expressing worry to those we care for. In tandem, Carl is a mischievous and disobedient little devil. He is abusive to his peers in school (animals in the neighborhood, as well) and overly destructive in the house, but his charisma and general distaste for the adult nonsense surrounding him are what make his bizarre actions so wildly acceptable.

The Gallagher family goes on and on. The number of residents in their home is constantly  fluctuating as they scramble to sustain the misfortune they have been handed. But they refuse to fail! Shameless reminds us that wealth exists in the bonds we maintain with our friends and family. Television does not need lavish sets and designer costumes to illustrate a relevant social reality. Poverty exists, and it looks damn good on the Gallaghers.