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Alcohol Abuse In The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls

1578 Words7 Pages

Statistics show that during the 1960s-1980s, “Approximately 10.6 million adults in the United States can be classified as alcoholics, and an additional 7.3 million either are alcohol abusers or have experienced negative consequences of alcohol use such as arrest or involvement in an accident” (CDC para 1). The memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls takes place in the 1960s-1980s in many different places, primarily, Arizona and Welch, West Virginia where Jeannette's family decide to reside for years to come. The memoir focuses on Jeannette's suffering with poverty as her parents Rose Mary and Rex choose to live a nomadic lifestyle where they settle in poor conditions, inconsistent jobs, and unstable income. Jeannette Walls is exposed to …show more content…

She reached into the pile of kitchen utensils that Dad had thrown there, grabbed a butcher knife, and slashed it through the air in front of him” (Walls 122). This quote highlights the lack of communication within Rex as he has to resort to physical violence due to his drinking problem. Rosemary's instinct to grab a knife as protection symbolizes the extreme measures she has to endure to protect herself from Rex’s unstable actions, showcasing the fear and trauma Rex is leading his family with. The continuous use of alcohol contributes to Rex’s broken promises with Jeannette to become sober and be the father figure he’s supposed to be. Because of these constant deserted promises, it starts to create a constant cycle where Jeannette deliberately detaches herself from Rex and his lies. These examples show an overarching theme of the destructive impact of alcohol in families, as well as being a reminder of the consequences of addiction within the addict, and their loved ones who are suffering as they are the ones being shunned out by. Rex causes economic problems with his family due to inability to be financially stable due to his addiction, while showcasing the power dynamic within the

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