The Glass Castle Reflection

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

back to me was Jeannette Wall’s growing resentment and shame of her parent’s conditions, and her acceptance of it.
I felt in the beginning of the book, a deep confusion of how Jeannette’s parents favor laissez faire parenting, treating their children as if they were mature. From the age of 3, Jeannette was given freedom, but this burned her at a young age, leaving her a mark to not be forgotten. I felt great disappointment with Jeannette’s parents since the children should not be alone with fire, showing to me they are unstable. This continued when Jeannette was brought to the hospital and felt a sense of civilization. Though Jeannette was having a good time at the hospital, Rex kidnapped her, and left their home. When Christmas came, Jeannette was able to choose a star for Christmas, making myself feel happiness since Rex was still able to give a gift to his children making them ignore their poverty. I also felt humbled when Jeannette’s mother painted a crippled Joshua tree, believing it was beautiful since it represents how their family isn’t perfect but it is united. This led me to be hopeful that the parents may settle down, and have normal life, leaving Jeannette to not be scarred again.
Jeannette’s seemingly happy life, came to realization that her family had problems that were not dealt with, and seemingly not cured.

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

unsafe.
Finally, the Walls family arrives at Welsh, West Virginia to live with Rex’s mother and start anew. When they finally moved to Welsh, I felt that the family’s condition may improve, since they are far away from the past and are with family. This glimmer of hope I had for the Walls family, soon faded and things started to get worse. Suddenly Rex’s mother Erma attacked Brian, making Lori and Jeannette feel angry, causing the Walls family to move to a rundown house. Now, as Jeannette gets older she now used by her father to trick others for money, and with her mother leaving for a summer making her in charge. When Jeannette’s brother was attacked, I felt that the urge that Rex would come back from their trip to Arizona and fight for his kids, but this hope was crippled, when he did the opposite. In addition, I felt great anger when Rex used his daughter in a disgusting way with Jeannette’s mother leaving her to deal with Rex’s demons. Later on Jeannette’s situation, became worse as Rex’s demons continued to take control of him and make him whip her making her want to escape to New York with her siblings. When this occurred, I felt the family will never be the same due to Rex’s demons but relieved for Jeannette since she could ] recreate herself and keep the values that were taught to her in a new place.
Finally, when Jeannette reaches New York, she recreates herself and begins anew at a college and gets great experiences at multiple newspaper, but soon her parents follow her and siblings in New York. When Jeannette’s parents moves in, she tries to make them adapt to the city-life but this fails. These attempts made me feel disappointed in Jeannette since her shame has made her embarrassed and