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Symbolism In The Glass Castle

1763 Words8 Pages

Matthew Seikel
Mrs. Wood
English III
07 February 2023
The Importance of The Metaphor The Glass Castle The goal of building The Glass Castle caused many ups and downs for the Walls family. In the book The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls the family is very poor and Rex who is the father wants to build a glass castle for the family. Jeannette who is the author and one of the main characters has positive outlooks and negative outlooks on her father wanting to build the glass castle. Rex tries his hardest throughout the book to bring happiness in trying to build the glass castle however, it seems he hurts the family rather than helping the family. The metaphor of the glass castle affects Rex and Jeannette when Rex starts his journey to build …show more content…

The money problems in the Walls family really is what was holding Rex back from building the glass castle. When Jeannette is home in Phoenix and Rex is not to be seen, a neighbor comes to the door and asks where her parents are. She then explains that her dad is out finding them food, “And finding work” (68). Jeannette realizes that the family has problems like Rex’s drinking habits and gambling, but she also knows that even though her dad does not seem like a hard-worker, she makes him seem like one throughout the book. He practically gives up his life for his children, he tries to get money for the kids and for the glass castle. Rex and his wife Rose Mary have arguments as well when it comes to money. They started getting into fights about spending money, and how Rex behaves. One night they got into a fight and it startled Jeannette and her siblings. She tries to take her dads side when she describes what Rex was doing, “Dad explained that he was out trying to earn money” (69). Jeannette knows that her father is trying to do whatever he can do to help the family. However, he has his problems and as Jeannette starts getting older he realizes that his time is running out to make his dream come true to build the glass castle for her. When the kids start getting older he starts to …show more content…

The family had a lot of hard times and money problems. However, Rex had a lot of planning for his goal to ultimately build the glass castle for the family and especially for Jeannette. The metaphor of the glass castle was said throughout the book when Jeannette had faith in Rex, when she had lost her hope in Rex, and when Rex had started his hunt for the perfect place for the glass castle. The goal of building the glass castle was a way for Rex to show his love to his family, instead it gave the family

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