Jeanette's Childhood In Jeannette Walls The Glass Castle

Jeannette Walls’ memoir, The Glass Castle, characterises Jeanette’s childhood as having dysfunctional parents and having constant poverty. What I found remarkable about Jeanette’s story is that although Jeanette’s parents were careless, neglectful and irresponsible, they were able to manage to create key children qualities and raise well adjusted adults. Jeanette's parents taught their children to be independent, resilient and to have a love for learning. These are invaluable gifts that will last a lifetime and breed success. All obstacles encountered as a child are opportunities to develop resilience. At a young age the Walls children learned to depend on each other for their needs because both their parents were distracted by their own interests. Jeanette’s father, Rex was an intelligent father but alcohol would get the best of him. Her mother, Rose Mary was a “free spirited” and focused on her own hobbies. Although the parents neglected their children they still
The joy of learning is the source of the children’s most vivid memories and is what unified the Walls family. Jeanette states “After dinner, the whole family was stretched out on the benches and the floors of the depot and read with the dictionary in the middle of the room so we could look up words we didn’t know.”(Walls 56) Sharing knowledge was how Rex and Rose Mary best expressed their affection towards their children. When Rex was sober he taught his children astronomy, geometry and physics. Rose Mary was a teacher so she taught her children to value literature. Jeanette was recognized for their love of literature at school and was placed in a gifted reading class. Rex and Rose Mary expressed their love by sharing with them the joy of learning. As parents they succeeded to instill in their children the drive to be successful and live accomplished