The Glass Castle - Essay Example

One can naturally feel disgusted by the ill-treatment Rex Walls gives to his family when he loses all his respect by turning himself into a drunkard and a careless father from being so energetic and dedicated towards his children. Jeanette recalls her life as a three year old until adulthood who appears to be intelligent from the start of the book. She is determined to overcome the poverty that she had to bear since childhood. The glass palace that her father promised his children turns out to be a fanciful image in the story which evokes the style of “fantasy and magic” (Prose 2005).

Jeanette starts her memoir as an affluent lady who lives in New York City on Park Avenue. She finds her mother picking from the garbage cans and contacts her through her mutual friend who manages to arrange a meeting over lunch at Jeanette’s place. Jeanette feels embarrassed by the way her parents move and live on streets but it is useless conveying this message to her mother as she would say in turn: “You want to help me change my life?. I’m fine. You’re the one who needs help. Your values are all confused.

” Her parents perceive things happening around them in a different light. They are over protective about their children and at the same time unfair and unjust towards them. When Jeanette’s dress catches fire at the age of 3 she is rushed to the hospital where she finds peace and comfort as compared to the room she has to share with her siblings at home. But things in the hospital do not go so well. Her father gets furious that she is wearing bandage and her mother does not like the fact that the nurse gave her gum.

Rex steals her from the hospital and brings her back home: “You don’t have to worry anymore, baby,” Dad said. “You’re safe now.” (Walls 14). It is ironic that her dad Rex Walls thinks that she is safe in his hands when he is the one who has become dangerous for his own children. “The Glass Castle” connects the readers to their personal experiences which they once faced or are currently undergoing. There are times when people turn against you for who you are for who you are just because your parents have not displayed the affection that you really needed.

Although I have never gone through any major crisis in my life there were moments when I used to wonder why some people are different from others and why some families acted different than others. I realized that each family has its own values which generate from the parents. If the parents are flexible and let their children explore life to the fullest then the children are likely to excel as outstanding citizens and family members. However in Jeanette’s case, she turned out to be a self-made person who struggled all her life trying to convince her parents to adopt the normal ways of living.

This is a gift from God. While the Walls lived in Las Vegas for a month Jeanette concluded that “…I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.” (Walls 34) This is true for her entire life. This memoir is a worth read and deserves a thorough inspection into the lives of the Walls family. If one gets a chance one should also meet Jeanette and ask her in person to believe what she has written. Although this book sends a chill down the spine as she narrates the tough moments in her life, there is always a chance that the audience feels better after talking to the author herself to help her gain more insight into life so she