The Glass Castle Reflection

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Poverty can be a choice or a last resort for many across the globe. The Glass Castle a memoir written by Jeannette Walls, portrays how her family rejected civilization and embraced poverty. I felt Rex Wall’s notion of “sink or swim” (Page 66) portrays the failure and success of having a family. The situation in the Wall’s hopes manifested itself as a Glass Castle, a mysterious glass house the family would hope to build and live in. In order for the family’s dream to succeed, they would have to face many demons on the way. Throughout the book, I protested against some of the choices that were made, but I soon came to an understanding that some people will not change the way they live. I kept on thinking there always a possibility that there is always a cure to a problem, but sometimes there is too little time or understanding on both sides. A common theme that kept on going …show more content…

The realization came when Jeannette’s mother was almost run down by her husband over a simple matter. During the incident Rex’s demon of alcoholism controlled him and made him reject logic. I also felt that before the fight, both parents had their own value system from the mother’s holistic view of life vs Rex’s scientific views, making them fight. After this Rex continues to be reckless, making Jeannette and her siblings understand that their parent’s rejects laws and civilization, making them anxious. Afterwards the family moves from town to town, leaving because they cannot pay debts due to Rex’s demon and Mary Rose inability to hold a teaching job. This makes me feel like a rift is being created between the children and their parent’s relationship. In addition, I felt the family’s condition is truly being exposed with Jeanette’s mother expressing disconnect with having kids being in the way of her dreams, and Rex’s addiction making their children feel

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