Few things inspire readers more than true stories of human triumph. The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, is the story of how a girl in an unthinkable situation overcomes the challenges life presents her. Jeannette Walls and her three siblings suffer severe trauma and hardship at the hands of their irresponsible and self-centered parents. From going days on end without food to almost being raped with the approval of her father, Jeannette endures and emerges as an accomplished author who gracefully and meticulously guides the reader through the story of her life. The negligence and trauma that Jeanette’s parents inflict upon her not only force her to mature at a very young age but also instill her with a strength and perseverance that ultimately lead to her survival and success. Jeannette’s mother, Rose Mary Walls, repeatedly displays her incompetence as a mother with her blatant lack of maternal instincts.
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Rose Mary’s self-centeredness and obliviousness blinds her to the severity of the trauma she inflicts upon her children. One of the most obvious examples of this neglect occurs when Jeannette and her younger brother, Brian, finds? an expensive ring and bring it to their mother. Jeannette tells Rose Mary that the ring could pay for months of food: “‘That’s true,’ Mom said, ‘but it could also improve my self-esteem. And,? at times like these, self-esteem is even more vital than food’” (186). Self-esteem is more important than food when your kids go days on end without eating? Rose Mary’s nonchalant worry about her children's well-being is incomprehensible. Nevertheless, Jeannette and her siblings continue to adapt and figure out a way to survive. Unlike Rose Mary, Jeannette’s father, Rex Walls possesses the qualities and desire to be a good father. Tragically alcoholism, the loss of a child, and a detrimental childhood suppress his paternal instincts. Throughout the book Jeannette gives multiple examples of her father’s struggles with alcohol: trying to run over a pregnant Rose Mary with a car, stealing the money from Oz, and almost killing Rose Mary in a knife fight with his children watching. Rex’s most deplorable display of neglect comes when he takes Jeannette to a bar for the sole purpose of making money playing pool. Jeannette recalls when Rex’s defeated opponent asks permission to bring his fourteen year old daughter upstairs: “‘Sure,’ Dad said. ‘Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’ He pointed his pool cue at me. ‘Holler if you need me,’ he said and winked at me as if he knew I could take care of myself” (212). Rex’s unwillingness to protect his daughter is mind boggling. Fortunately, Jeannette once again figures out a means to not only endure, but escape a situation that could have had life altering implications. Interwoven with the Glass Castle’s numerous stories of parental neglect is the story of how the Walls children learn to survive and develop. Regardless of the negligence that the Walls children encounter their internal need to survive the moment empowers them with the strength to overcome the situations they face. When Jeanette’s older sister Lori decides she is going to leave for New York to become an artist, all the kids bind together to save up enough money to get her out. “I told
Rose Mary’s self-centeredness and obliviousness blinds her to the severity of the trauma she inflicts upon her children. One of the most obvious examples of this neglect occurs when Jeannette and her younger brother, Brian, finds? an expensive ring and bring it to their mother. Jeannette tells Rose Mary that the ring could pay for months of food: “‘That’s true,’ Mom said, ‘but it could also improve my self-esteem. And,? at times like these, self-esteem is even more vital than food’” (186). Self-esteem is more important than food when your kids go days on end without eating? Rose Mary’s nonchalant worry about her children's well-being is incomprehensible. Nevertheless, Jeannette and her siblings continue to adapt and figure out a way to survive. Unlike Rose Mary, Jeannette’s father, Rex Walls possesses the qualities and desire to be a good father. Tragically alcoholism, the loss of a child, and a detrimental childhood suppress his paternal instincts. Throughout the book Jeannette gives multiple examples of her father’s struggles with alcohol: trying to run over a pregnant Rose Mary with a car, stealing the money from Oz, and almost killing Rose Mary in a knife fight with his children watching. Rex’s most deplorable display of neglect comes when he takes Jeannette to a bar for the sole purpose of making money playing pool. Jeannette recalls when Rex’s defeated opponent asks permission to bring his fourteen year old daughter upstairs: “‘Sure,’ Dad said. ‘Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’ He pointed his pool cue at me. ‘Holler if you need me,’ he said and winked at me as if he knew I could take care of myself” (212). Rex’s unwillingness to protect his daughter is mind boggling. Fortunately, Jeannette once again figures out a means to not only endure, but escape a situation that could have had life altering implications. Interwoven with the Glass Castle’s numerous stories of parental neglect is the story of how the Walls children learn to survive and develop. Regardless of the negligence that the Walls children encounter their internal need to survive the moment empowers them with the strength to overcome the situations they face. When Jeanette’s older sister Lori decides she is going to leave for New York to become an artist, all the kids bind together to save up enough money to get her out. “I told