The Glass Castle Essay

The glass castle by Jeannette Walls is a story of a dysfunctional family which does not conform to the norm of society. And through this their children suffer due to their unconventional methods Mom and Dad liked to make a big point about never surrendering to fear or to prejudice or to the narrow-minded conformist sticks-in-the-mud who tried to tell everyone else what was proper" Jeannetee's parents always thought the "normal" was an unacceptable way to live. They stressed this idea and it applies to their lives throughout the entire book. The adult used this idea as an excuse for whenever they did not have a home or food to eat. But it is through this that we can the maturity and desire the children show to rise above from their problems.

We can see through this quote. moms head snapped up. you cant talk to me like that, she said. Im your mother. In which her daughter replied if you want to be treated like a mother, you should act like one. it is evident that the way things are conducted in the family is known to be wrong by the children as she points out to her mother that her actions and behaviour do not depict that of a mother, this shows both maturity and understanding, and again the will to rise above her current situation.

"But on that first day of school, Mom refused to get out of bed. Lori, Brian, and I pulled back the covers and tried to drag her out, but she wouldn't budge."

This quote shows how in the Walls family, the tables are often turned. Usually, it is the parents that have to drag their children out of their beds to get to school. However, all of Rose Mary's children are trying desperately to get their mother out of bed. In many ways, Jeannette and her children take care of their mother more than Rose Mary takes care of them. This yet again emphasises on the maturity shown by the children and how they dont agree with the way everything is conducted in their home.

"Mom rolled her eyes whenever dad mentioned his research. I began to have my own doubts about what he was up to" The mother did not believe in Rex's research and knew he was not doing what he said. The children eventually caught on too. Finally the family is starting to see Rex is not holding to his promises and may not actually be the almost superhero Jeannette views him to be. The children are no longer fooled by their dads ideas on saving them from their situation in this we see the lose of desire to chase fairytales but to rise above their situation so as to lead normal lives where there is more stability.

'I didn't know what to do. Part of me wanted to do whatever I could to take care of Mom and Dad, and part of me just wanted to wash my hands of them.' We can see that she still has compassion towards her family but she still cant handle them at times as she is more of the parent than they are. We see that she wants to rise above her situation and not remain in this dysfunctional life and by washing her hands of them she is really washing her hands on their way of life rising above her situation.