The Glass Castle

"It was hard for me to believe that this woman with her head under the blankets, feeling sorry for..."

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 00:43:00 -0500

““It was hard for me to believe that this woman with her head under the blankets, feeling sorry for herself and boohooing like a five-year old, was my mother.” (Walls, page 208)”

- A simile is defined as a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, by using “like” or “as.” In the quote above Jeannette is comparing her mother to a five year old. Rose always had those days where she would just lay on the sofa crying and feeling sorry for her. Situation like this shows a perfect example her not being able to act like an adult. It shows how shes immature and depends on her husband Rex to rely on. In this situation particular she cried about doing it except for actually trying to get her work done.

The Walls family arrives to Midland after leaving San Francisco....

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:58:51 -0500

The Walls family arrives to Midland after leaving San Francisco. While arriving, Rose Mary demands them to stop in an area so she could paint a Joshua tree she finds beautiful. The Joshua tree is a symbol of their family. That Christmas they spent it in midland. Rex was not able to buy his children presents because he was fired from his job after arguing with someone. So, instead he took them out to the desert and had them pick a star to call it their own. Jeannette is pleased to have gotten a star than a toy because she didn’t feel like she was deceived by the myth of Santa Clause like the other kids. Jeannette enjoys the desert very much like her mother.

Loss of childhood innocence: One consistent theme through out...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:33:00 -0500

Loss of childhood innocence: One consistent theme through out the book is the loss of childhood innocence. When they were exposed to poverty, sexual assaults, and alcohol is when they lost their innocence at a very young age. In the beginning of the novel, when the parents tell the children to gather there important things and leave their metaphorically leaving behind their childhood. As they leave Rose Mary says “Don’t be so sentimental…” (Walls, page 18) Another example would be how in Jeannette’s early years she was exposed to a weaponry and alcohol. “By the time I was four, I was pretty good with dads pistol…I could hot five or six beer bottles at thirty paces.” (Wall, page 21) Most four year old should not be learning how to aim a gun. As time goes on the parents start to be dependent on the children as if they were the parents.

Through out the entire book Rose Mary shows numerous examples of...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 23:00:00 -0500

Through out the entire book Rose Mary shows numerous examples of being lazy and acting very immature for her age. The music video above relates to the mom and shows an example how she acts and shows her immaturity. She has little patience when it comes to taking care of her children and is selfish and feels sorry for herself. She resents her children because she sees them as standing between her and her dream life of becoming an artist. Yet she cherishes them for their companionship, particularly Lori who had an interest in art as well. She went to college to be a teacher, but resents it because it does not allow to be the artist she wants to become. She has very little passion for people who complain about their situation, and believes a person can make their lives however they want it to be. As time goes on though, she starts to loose herself a little.

“Ding dong, the witch is dead.” (Walls, page 180)...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 22:21:00 -0500

“Ding dong, the witch is dead.” (Walls, page 180) This was Lori’s comment right after her mother told them the news about Erma their grandmothers death. Erma was a very rude,old, evil person who only caused problems in their family’s life. Their father Rex became furious when she made the joke. So for the reader to understand how Lori felt about her grandmother the author uses the allusion to the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz, when the villagers are singing the wicked witch of the east is dead.

"‘Have I ever let you down?’ he asked Brian and me and then turned and walked away. In a..."

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:59:00 -0500

““‘Have I ever let you down?’ he asked Brian and me and then turned and walked away. In a voice so low that Dad didn’t hear him, Brian said, ‘Yes’” (Walls, page 78).”

- There is a part in the book where Jeannette and her brother Brain are sitting in the cafeteria pretending to do homework so people wouldn’t question why there not eating. Of course, they weren’t eating because they didn’t have food at home and didn’t have money to buy any. Out of nowhere Rex appeared with a big grocery bag filled with food trying to become the “hero” again. When Rex asks the question if he ever let his children down i find this statement to be a paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses the possible truth. When Brain replies yes underneath his breath hes indicating that his dad always lets them down.

Rex Walls and Rose Mary are complete opposites but yet they...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:06:00 -0500

Rex Walls and Rose Mary are complete opposites but yet they thrive and rely on each other for support. Rose Mary is a free spirited person and a persons whose upbringing was controlled and lived in a confined strict environment where she couldn’t hardly do anything. On the other hand, Rex Walls is a drunk who swears a lot and likes to gamble and pretend that he lives in a fantasy world. Rose Mary depends on Rex to take care of her and the family and to always be the hero. Rex relies on Rose for support as well, he expects her to just “be there”. This is considered as a juxtaposition because by comparing these two characters we can tell that their “bound” to each other. The song above relates to Rex and Rose and how they rely on each other but yet their opposites.

Even through their toughest times Rex and Rose refused to ask...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:47:00 -0500

Even through their toughest times Rex and Rose refused to ask for any help. They don’t even accept help from their children when they hit their late adult years. They went by the rule self sufficiency. They didn’t rely on society or doctors or anything else to help them through life. This mostly came from Rose Marry because of the way she was brought up by her mother, controlling and filled with rules. One specific example of Rose being self sufficient is when Jeannette gets a really bad wound and her mother tells hers to go back out to play and that she’ll get over it. Jeannette sucks it up and learns how to be independent. “What doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.” - Rose Marry (Walls, page 179)

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that contradicts itself. When...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 20:15:00 -0500

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that contradicts itself. When Jeannette was in the hospital she noticed a nurse chewing on something and asked what it was, when she found out it was chewing gum she had no idea what it was and wanted to try a piece. “I pulled out a stick, took off the white paper and the shiny silver foil under it, and studied the powdery, putty-colored gum. I put it in my mouth and was stunned by the [sharp sweetness]. (Walls, page 12) “Sharp sweetness” is known as an oxymoron.

One of the most common forms of situational irony in The Glass...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 19:44:14 -0500

One of the most common forms of situational irony in The Glass Castle would be when the children take on traditional adult rules. A perfect example would be the time in Battle Mountain when Rose Marry gets a job. Not to mention, her children had to convince her to get it so they would have enough food in their house or buy clothes they need. Every morning the children had to become the adults and wake up their mother for work. This is ironic of course, because young children are expected to be dependent of their parents but in this case their mother is dependent of them. The quote above explains how Rose Marry is a selfish individual who acts immature like a child, and how her children have to look out for themselves like an adult.

Jeannette writes, “I had always wanted a watch. Unlike...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:47:56 -0500

Jeannette writes, “I had always wanted a watch. Unlike diamonds, watches were practical. They were for people of the run, people with appointments to keep and schedules to meet. That was the kind of person i wanted to be.” (Walls, page 216) In Jeannette’s life she has lived with a family that threw anything that slowed them down, even loved animals and special belongings. She learned not to come attach to things or care about inanimate objects especially nonsense things like the the diamond jewelery she sells in Welch. The watch symbolizes the life that she could have and the person she wants t become. She longs for a life far different from the one she is living at this point, but just like the one she comes to live at the end of her novel.

The fire represents chaos and destruction and fear in...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 09:14:00 -0500

The fire represents chaos and destruction and fear in Jeannette’s life. Her dad says on (Walls, page 15) “She already fought the fire once and won.” Throughout her life she has fought numerous battles. She has overcome homelessness, terror, abuse and starvation. Her fathers quote and the picture above shows an example of how Jeannette always pulled through. The fire became a fixture in her life, and as a young girl she could not keep herself from playing with it and watching it. Jeannette’s early experiences with fire foreshadows the events that follow her in life.

The part where Jeannette falls out the car its a metaphor of the...

Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:43:00 -0500

The part where Jeannette falls out the car its a metaphor of the parents “abusing” their children, while at the same time, its a way of showing their love to them. Concerned parents would of made sure everyone was in the car, or look back when the car door flew open. Or look back when their son Brain was crying too hard to talk. However it took them just a little to long to realize Jeannette was missing. Jeannette’s thoughts show an example of how she felt, “They might decide it wasn’t worth the drive back to retrieve me; that, the Quixote the cat, i was a bother and burden they can do without.” But yet again dad comes around and becomes the hero.

An example of one theme is when Rex is trying to teach Jeannette...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:02:37 -0500

An example of one theme is when Rex is trying to teach Jeannette how to swim by literally forcing her to sink or swim. When she was about to drown he would rescue her and then repeatedly throw her right back in. Until there was a point where he didn’t touch her and she had to swim to the other side on her own or drown or just get thrown in the water again. This strategy is a representation of Rose Mary and Rex’s approach on parenting. The parents refuse to baby their children, often present them with challenges but the children seem to pull threw because they learn to adapt to their environment. They learn to swim not sink in life despite everything they went through.

For the Walls family, Las Vegas was mini vacation for them. They...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:44:00 -0500

For the Walls family, Las Vegas was mini vacation for them. They lived there for about a month and slept in a motel room. During the day they went to casinos where the kids would play and wonder around while dad had a “sure-fire system for beating the house.” At the end of the day Rex would have his pockets full of money. He took them out to fancy restaurants and let them experience things they haven’t experienced before. And then the day came where Rex and Rose immediately came looking for them and had to do the “skedaddle” Rex said it was because one of the dealers had figured out his “system.”

The metaphor of the Glass Castle explains her family’s...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:03:00 -0500

The metaphor of the Glass Castle explains her family’s lifestyle. The idea of that someday the family will become rich and live in a house entirely made of glass, shows a faith and desire for future stability despite the lack of it in their current lives. The family believes in this dream not only because Rex does but because they think if he has something to focus on he will be able to overcome his alcoholism in order to actually make it in reality. However, the house is made of “glass” which can shatter after all and all the dreams and promises will be shattered along with her father.

The family has moved to Blythe and Rex and Rose get into a...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:37:00 -0500

The family has moved to Blythe and Rex and Rose get into a heated argument on for how long shes been pregnant. She carries on and says “Some babies are premature. Mine were all postmature. That’s why they’re so smart. Their brain had longer to develop.” (Walls, page 42) Rose Mary’s statement was a hyperbole because she exaggerated and was being dramatic. And of course Rex starts calling her names and Mary becomes childish. The picture above shows another example of a hyperbole. The cow is extremely overly exaggerated skinny as a man is walking toward it with empty buckets.

Rex Walls: Throughout the novel, Jeannette and her father always...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:35:00 -0500

Rex Walls: Throughout the novel, Jeannette and her father always had a close relationship. Rex was a highly intelligent man who was skilled in electrician and engineer and spent most of his spare time inventing little things he hoped would of made the family rich. He had a good intention to help his family and be the “man” of the house. But his alcoholism, false promises, past and immaturity stopped him from being the father and husband he wanted to be. In the music video above, she says “Declare independence..don’t let them do that too you.” This relates to Rex because his independent thinking pushes him to the point where he is paranoid of the U.S government and sees problems in almost any organized system. His drinking became worse when he finally just gave up on his family and himself in Welch.

When Jeannette is admitted to the hospital after suffering...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 19:20:00 -0500

When Jeannette is admitted to the hospital after suffering burns, she finds herself feeling secure and experiencing things for her very first time. She mentions she likes how the hospital is clean and shiny and how everything is white. She was amazed how polite and quite people were there and how she even had her very own room. Jeannette makes it obvious to the reader that she wasn’t use to the feeling of being secure. The juxtaposition is a compare or contrast. In this section of the book she is comparing her way of living which is freely to the way she felt in the hospital which was a symbol of security for her.

Jeannette Walls introduces her memoir by establishing the theme...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 17:52:38 -0500

Jeannette Walls introduces her memoir by establishing the theme between the class differences and introduces two main characters, her parents Rose Mary and Rex Walls. In the very beginning of the book she spots her mother digging through a dumpster, which lets the reader know the differences between the two classes. A couple of days later they meet up for lunch. They make it clear that they both disagree with each others life styles and why Jeannette is embarrassed of her own mother. Throughout Jeannette and her mothers meeting, Rose Mary’s character is revealed through her actions and words. Jeannette takes note how her mother face lightens up each time she see’s something she likes. When Jeannette mentions to her mother that she saw her picking through the trash, her mother reply’s “Well, people in this country are too wasteful. It’s my way of recycling.” (Walls, page 5) Thus, through their conversation, Jeannette foreshadows the story she is about to tell.