Character Analysis Of Jeannette Walls

Jeannette Walls
Jeannette is a major character and protagonist. She is a round, dynamic character, and the memoir focuses on her development and maturity. Due to her forgiving nature, she is Rex Wall's favorite daughter. Despite her father's destructive nature, she chooses to be optimistic and positive. Through her early childhood she chooses to ignore her father's drunken episodes, and thinks of him as a loving father and an excellent teacher of the wild. By the time she reaches her junior year of high school, she realizes the indisputable flaws that her father has. She uses her intelligence to eventually move away from her parents and Welch. She is a natural forgiver and it shows even when she moves away from her parents.

Jeanette's early character is somewhat timid and a fan of conformity. She writes, "Since I wanted the other kids to like me, I didn't raise my hand all the time" (Wells 58). She goes on to move to New York away from her parents after junior year, just through her own effort and resources. Jeanette changes from a child who is affected by others' opinion of her, into an adult mature enough to make life-changing decisions for herself without being concerned with the status quo. She is motivated by success and by better chances in the world outside of Welch, where she feels constrained by the closed-mindedness of other people who live there. Jeanette is a symbol of the resilience and perseverance of humanity.

Rex Walls
Rex is the father of Jeannette, Lori, Brian, and Maureen Walls. He can be considered an antagonist, because he hinders Jeanette's plans by spending the money she saved, and preventing her and her family from living in less deplorable conditions. When he is not drinking, he appears to be brilliant a...

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...er's selfishness and some of her father's charm, and is likely the most enigmatic character in the family.

Erma Walls
Erma is Rex's mother. She likely abused him as a child, and this is her most important role. She also attempts to abuse Brian when the four children stay at her house. She is usually cruel to them. She is the character that first sets the stage for the downfall of events in Welsh. She is bitter to her grandchildren and children, and has different morals than Jeannette. She is racist and resents Jeannette for being friends with any African American children. When Rex and Rose Mary leave to go get their belongings in Phoenix, Erma shows her true cruelty. She is a static antagonist. However, when she dies, the entire family attends her funeral, and both of Jeanette's parents challenge the children with accepting the notion that nobody is entirely bad.