Alcoholism In The Glass Castle

Imagine yourself as an alcoholic. Would you act violent? Burst out laughing? Most likely it will be one or the other. However, an alcoholic also lies about his/her whereabouts or apprehend whatever funding he or she can get their hands on to answer the call of the bottle. They do not want to do this, but they have been taken by the disease of alcoholism. Alcoholism is the addiction to consume alcohol. Some people are able to let the phone keep ringing. Some though cannot and will answer the phone call from the bottle. In the case of Rex Walls, he did what he could to answer that call. As such, David Sheff’s statement about alcoholics is related to the behavior of Rex Walls. Rex’s behaviors and actions is that of a typical alcoholic; violence due to being under the influence, stealing to feed the addiction, and lying to get the bottle.

In The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls stated, “He came in such a drunken fury… He broke windows and smashed dishes and furniture until he’d spent all his anger.” Rex was showing irresponsible and acted foolish and childish while he was drunk in front of his children.

Walls also stated, “... thrust the lighter into the Douglas for, flames leaped through the branches with crackling noise, Christmas ornaments exploded from the heat... Knocking down the tree, smashing most of the ornaments, and ruining all our presents.” Walls explained how Rose Mary put all of her hard work and dedication into making it a very Merry Christmas because of what the family had been going through. Unfortunately, it was ruined by the Grinch; a drunken Rex

Walls.
The alcohol did not affect Rex’s home life, but also his work life. Since he was always drunk and not thinking about what could happen, he was unable to obtain and hold a steady job. As Walls stated, “ Then he got fired from his second job and from his third, and was kicked out of the electricians’ union.” It was always about Rex. Never thinking about anyone else, not even his own family. Because of the alcohol, it had caused major problems on the home front. As Walls recalls, “ When he got bored, was fired or unpaid bills were too high - we would pack up in the middle of the night.”
On the 14 March 2016, we reviewed the noted of the TED talk “Everything You Think You Know About Addiction is Wrong,” by Johann Hari. He explained how society views addiction in a negative way and how it treats addiction in a negative fashion. Specifically, he claimed that when we are happy and healthy, a person wouldn't drink nor do drugs, but when a person is traumatized or isolated or beaten down by life, they have a tendency to do drugs or drink alcohol. As he stated, “ Human beings have a natural and innate need to bond, and when we're happy and healthy, we'll bond and connect with each other, but if you can't do that, because you're traumatized or isolated or beaten down by life, you will bond with something that will give you some sense of relief. Now, that might be gambling, that might be pornography, that might be cocaine, that might be cannabis, but you will bond and connect with something because that's our nature.” Although, some people believe that drugs and alcohol is a gateway to happiness and love, Hari insists that people turn to drugs and alcohol, which seems like “the easy way out,” to find the happiness and love that they are missing in their lives. As he states, a trial called “Rat Park” shows that when a rat is isolated, they turn towards the alcohol. However, if a male and female rat were placed together, they both drunk the water and sexual intercourse. This experiment demonstrates how isolation can cause loneliness and a quick turn towards alcohol. In sum, his view is that natural human interaction is needed in order to have a happy and healthy life. Rex was an alcoholic. Although, he had a family to keep him happy, his lifestyle could be a probable cause for him being an alcoholic. Little money, constantly moving from town to town to locate new jobs, starting over, finding new friends and co-workers are all stressors for a person and can have an enormous amount of pressure for that person. Rex was attempting to take the easy way out and drink his problems away.
In conclusion, the quote of David Sheff relates and describes the behavior Rex Walls clearly. Rex performed the action of an alcoholic - stealing from the family wallet - and absorbed in the characteristics of one; a liar and a thief.