The Glass Castle, By Jeannette Walls

1348 Words6 Pages

Parents have a profound influence on shaping their children’s personalities through their attitudes and actions. This is because children spend a substantial portion of their formative years under their parent’s care and guidance. During this period, they observe and interact with their parents, internalizing various behaviors, beliefs, and values that mold their character. This concept is clearly illustrated in the memoir The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. This memoir depicts the author’s unconventional upbringing with their parents, Rex and Rosemary. Their children, Lori, Jeannette, Brian, and Maureen, did not grow up in a stable or typical environment. Rex and Rosemary’s unorthodox parenting style and the negligence of their basic needs developed resilience, …show more content…

Despite Rex’s detrimental actions, his children navigated these challenges and it speaks about their resilience. This wasn’t the first time Rex caused harm to their dreams, but they learned from their past experiences. Though Lori didn’t have hope since they only managed to save $37.20 a week before school ended, Jeannette was still determined to get Lori out of Welch. She knew if Lori didn’t make it out, neither she nor her siblings would. Instead, she was resourceful and fast enough to seize opportunities, which exemplified her resilience. In a way, Rex’s actions inadvertently became a catalyst for their development of resilience, ultimately shaping their capacity to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams with determination. Rex and Rosemary Walls display neglectful and self-centered behavior towards their children. Rex is occupied with drinking and gambling the money he earns, while Rosemary is consumed by her artistic ambitions. Consequently, their children's basic needs often go unmet due to their parents' self-centeredness. As the family frequently faces financial difficulties, the Wall children don’t get an