Survival In The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls

Survival in the Glass Castle

Survival is on top of the priority list for everyone, whether they are rich or poor. That was the case for Jeannette Walls. In her memoir, “The Glass Castle”, we can see how Jeannette becomes a strong and independent woman, despite of her harsh past. Her childhood was filled with adventure, obstacles, and poverty. Her mother, Rose Mary Walls, was indulged in her arts that she didn’t bother taking care of her children. Her father, Rex Walls, was a charismatic and creative man when sober; however, alcohol turns him into “an angry-eyed stranger” (Walls 23). The surroundings and conditions of her past made Jeannette stronger and allowed her to become who she is today. Throughout the novel, Jeannette went from an innocent

Her mother always said that Jeannette was a hard worker out of the Walls children. When Jeannette was at the age where she wanted boys to notice her, she decided to start fixing her teeth. Jeanette realized that actual braces were too expensive. Instead, she made her own out of rubber bands and wires. When her father saw the braces she was wearing, he called her a genius who took after him. Jeannette stated, “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… I swore to myself that it [her future life] would never be like Mom’s, that I would not be crying my eyes out in an unheated shack in some godforsaken holler” (Walls 208). Her mother’s mood swings and complaints made Jeannette want to become a strong woman, unlike her mother. Her mother also stated: “Jeannette, you’re so focused, it’s scary” (Walls 195). Jeannette took that as a compliment, but this shows that Jeannette and her mother had completely different attitudes towards life. Her mother was free spirited while Jeannette believed that there would need to be plans in life. After Jeannette got a job in New York as a writer, she would attend parties, art galleries, and etc. When people ask about her background and parents, Jeannette doesn’t tell the exact truth because she felt embarrassed about her parents. She also didn’t want to be looked down upon because of her past. Maureen, Jeannette’s baby sister, left for California after getting out of jail for stabbing her mother. Jeannette felt guilty and sorry for not being able to give Maureen the life she had wanted. A year later, Jeannette’s father contracted a disease that was incurable, however, she still brought the liquor he had requested over the phone. These two incidents show that Jeannette does love and care for her family, even after all they had done. However, when it