The Glass Castle

1675 Words7 Pages
The Glass Castle The Glass Castle, by Jeanette Walls, is a personal memoir which tells the story of her childhood and the experiences that eventually shape her overall persona. She grew up living a nomadic lifestyle, with her parents Rex and Mary, her two sisters and brother. Her parents were constantly running away from their debts and the authority. They moved from place to place, sometimes living out of their run-down vehicle and going weeks at a time without eating a sufficient meal. In the book, Jeannette recounts her childhood memories, spent with her father, Rex. She claims them to be some of the best moments of her life, regardless of her father’s obvious irresponsibility and the destruction he brings into the lives of his children. Despite the many instances in which her father failed to protect his family, refused to take responsibility for them, and even stole from them, Jeannette manages to find her way through the darkness, continuing to love her father until his dying day for two reasons: one, for his constant ability to make her feel special, and two, because he is a never-ending source of inspiration. Jeanette expresses her thoughts and feelings through her tones and speech, as well as through her diction and writing style. Through her account of the Christmas in which her father gave his children stars for presents, Jeannette continuously portrays Rex as an intelligent and loving mentor. She recounts the memory with admiration and contentment in her tone. Although Jeannette begins by saying, “we had no money at all,” the matter of fact tone and lack of regret both suggest that her family’s financial struggles are overshadowed by the significance of that moment (39). Rex has an ability to make her feel special, introduced by the way in which he “took each of [the] kids out into the desert night, one by one,” describing that the stars

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