Analysis Of Jeanette Walls The Glass Castle

Jeanette Walls’ memoir, The Glass Castle, recounts Jeanette’s unusual childhood. Through her recollection, there are numerous examples of experiences she endures to progress through Erikson’s eight stages of Psychosocial development. With each chapter, the reader is able to trace her development from one stage to the next through stories of her childhood and adolescence. Each anecdote highlights the struggles of her early developmental stages which she inevitably overcomes to have a positive, successful adulthood. While recollecting her memories, she is able to come to terms with her dysfunctional past which is proof that she has successfully maneuvered through Erickson’s stages of development.
Erikson theorized that there are eight stages

role confusion. Essentially, they must answer the question, ‘Who I am?’. The child is searching for a way to define themselves and create meaning and is concerned with how they appear to others (). Jeannette begins working for the school newspaper in high school and this is where she finds her niche. She is able to meet people, because she was in charge of the newspaper, and create some sort of social life. “That year I started working for the school newspaper, The Maroon Wave. I wanted to join some club or group or organization where I could feel I belonged, where people wouldn’t move away if I sat down next to them” (203). During her work with the school newspaper Jeannette discovers her occupational identity and what she eventually ends up doing:

isolation; the quality that this stage centers on is love. Balancing intimacy and isolation is essential in knowing how to be on your own before you can learn to truly love someone else (). Jeannette is married twice, first to Eric, then to John. While she developed an intimacy with Eric, she realizes that although he is a good man, he isn’t right for her. After her separation, she is on her own again and appreciates her independence through her ice-skating. After some time on her own and learning to accept isolation, she is able to find love again with John.
Generativity vs. stagnation is the conflict in adulthood, Erikson’s seventh stage of development. The virtue during this stage is care that can be exhibited in things like parenting and social work. Acts of generativity are to establish and guide the next generation (). Jeanette takes on the role of stepmother to her second husband’s kids from his first marriage. The contributions she made in their lives contributed to developing them and her progression through this