The memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is the tragic story of Walls abusive childhood with her alcoholic father and living in poverty. One of the most important and memorable parts of her story of struggle is when she actually stands up for herself against her father on pages 236-238. Throughout Jeannette’s horrid childhood she has always been loyal to her father, even though he has been highly abusive, at this point of the story what strategies does Jeannette use to convey her realization that she needs to stand up for herself and get away? Even in only three pages, Jeannette's strategies show how much better off she would have been without the help of her parents.
There have actually been many situations in which Mary and Rex could …show more content…
Throughout the story she was strong and tried not to let others affect her when everyone seemed to be against her, even her own teacher tried to encourage her to just stay in Welch and go to a mediocre college. It takes a lot of courage to leave and make it big in New York, “To leave West Virginia, even to leave Welch, would have been unthinkable disloyal, like deserting your family.” While Jeannette in a way did desert her family, the analogy and figurative language of the section really emphasizes how huge the thought of leaving actually is, when in the beginning of the story, it was hardly that big of a deal. The idea that this would be incredibly disloyal didn’t even seem to phase Jeannette, her mind was strict on the fact that she most definitely would go to New York. She made this clear to the people around her as well “Dad, I said, ’as soon as I finish classes, I’m getting on the next bus out of here.If the buses stop running, I’ll hitchhike, I’ll walk if I have to. Go ahead and build the Glass Castle, but don’t do it with me.” She was laying down the law to the man and wanted Rex to know there was no changing her mind. The last sentence especially left a strong impact, creating a standout sentence to make it known she was not messing around. She did not let anyone discourage her and now she has become a successful …show more content…
However what is not as easily seen is the whole world of empty promises he has built his life around, which admittingly, is not even that hard to figure out. By this part of the story the reader clearly knows that the Glass Castle will never actually be built, it is but a figment of Rexs imagination of what the future would hold. When Rex starts to go off on how he finally found the solution for the lack of sunlight, Jeannette clearly knows what is up and is furious about how he keeps this story going. “I stared at the plans. ‘Dad,’ I said, ‘you’ll never build the Glass Castle.’ ‘Are you saying you don’t have faith in your old man’” This abrupt statement from Jeannette is so upfront and out of character for her, yet her father still replies in a manipulative way as per usual. Rex’s tries to guilt his children into thinking that he is this magnificent father that is better than all of the city folk, yet slowly they have grown to realize how it is all but an act. Whilst the children can’t tell at first, Jeannette makes it clear to the reader what he is doing with the point of view of which she writes about him. Soon after, Rex even says “And I’ll build the Glass Castle, I swear it. We’ll all live in it together. It’ll be a hell of a lot better than any apartment you’ll ever find in New York City, I can guran-goddamn-tee that.” This shows another part of his character of which he wants his children
There have actually been many situations in which Mary and Rex could …show more content…
Throughout the story she was strong and tried not to let others affect her when everyone seemed to be against her, even her own teacher tried to encourage her to just stay in Welch and go to a mediocre college. It takes a lot of courage to leave and make it big in New York, “To leave West Virginia, even to leave Welch, would have been unthinkable disloyal, like deserting your family.” While Jeannette in a way did desert her family, the analogy and figurative language of the section really emphasizes how huge the thought of leaving actually is, when in the beginning of the story, it was hardly that big of a deal. The idea that this would be incredibly disloyal didn’t even seem to phase Jeannette, her mind was strict on the fact that she most definitely would go to New York. She made this clear to the people around her as well “Dad, I said, ’as soon as I finish classes, I’m getting on the next bus out of here.If the buses stop running, I’ll hitchhike, I’ll walk if I have to. Go ahead and build the Glass Castle, but don’t do it with me.” She was laying down the law to the man and wanted Rex to know there was no changing her mind. The last sentence especially left a strong impact, creating a standout sentence to make it known she was not messing around. She did not let anyone discourage her and now she has become a successful …show more content…
However what is not as easily seen is the whole world of empty promises he has built his life around, which admittingly, is not even that hard to figure out. By this part of the story the reader clearly knows that the Glass Castle will never actually be built, it is but a figment of Rexs imagination of what the future would hold. When Rex starts to go off on how he finally found the solution for the lack of sunlight, Jeannette clearly knows what is up and is furious about how he keeps this story going. “I stared at the plans. ‘Dad,’ I said, ‘you’ll never build the Glass Castle.’ ‘Are you saying you don’t have faith in your old man’” This abrupt statement from Jeannette is so upfront and out of character for her, yet her father still replies in a manipulative way as per usual. Rex’s tries to guilt his children into thinking that he is this magnificent father that is better than all of the city folk, yet slowly they have grown to realize how it is all but an act. Whilst the children can’t tell at first, Jeannette makes it clear to the reader what he is doing with the point of view of which she writes about him. Soon after, Rex even says “And I’ll build the Glass Castle, I swear it. We’ll all live in it together. It’ll be a hell of a lot better than any apartment you’ll ever find in New York City, I can guran-goddamn-tee that.” This shows another part of his character of which he wants his children