The Gift of Independence
Jeannette Walls was given independence at the age of three. Independence reinforces an individual's ability to mature quicker to adjust to the real world. In the memoir, The Glass Castle, the three oldest children are able to construct a better life for themselves even throughout their parent's shortcomings. Jeannette's father constantly falls victim to alcoholism, while her mom is repeatedly shown to be selfish towards her family. Their parenting methods were absurd compared to the typical norm, however Jeannette always strived to see the good in her parents. Through her father, she was able to become a strong, independent, self-sufficient woman. Her perspectives towards her parents changed throughout the memoir as she matured. Jeannette and her siblings were often abandoned by their father because of his drinking problem. During one night at their new home, a stranger was able to sneak into their house and began to molest Jeannette. The children were forced to deal with the situation themselves due to their parent’s absence. She recounts, “We searched for him for a few blocks, Brian whacking at the bushes with
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After her Junior year in high school, she planned on moving to New York City. Her mom did not show any feelings other than jealousy of Jeannette’s decision. On the other hand, her father showed remorse for her daughter’s choice. He tried his best to convince Jeannette to stay with the family. Her father reminds Jeannette, “If things don't work out, you can always come home, I’ll be here for you. You know that don’t you?” (Walls 240) Jeannette can ultimately see that her father has nothing, but love for his daughter even through his poor decisions. This helps reinforce the idea of the memoir being written in order to honor her parents. The lessons learned as a child have served her well into