The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls: Literary Analysis

The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, is a memoir that recounts the unusual, nomadic, poverty-stricken upbringing she and her siblings received from two irresponsible parents. This narrative gives graphic depictions of the confrontations that young ones face when growing up with “dreamer” parents who don’t focus on the necessities shown in “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs”. This means Jeannette’s parents, Rex and RoseMary, valued self-actualization rather than their basic physiological needs. Coming from a woman who experienced some of the worst events possible during her childhood, this book has cogent meaning—it allows the world to empathize with her. By explaining the challenges throughout her life, Walls refuses to condemn her parents as a child because of Dad’s charismatic appeal and later on in life her unconditional love for them.
Rex Walls gets whatever he wants from his children, particularly from Jeannette: ‘“You’re a doll,’ Dad said and gave me a kiss. I pulled my head back. Giving him that money pissed me off. I was mad at myself but even madder at Dad. He knew I had a soft spot for him the way no one else in the family did, and he was taking advantage of it” (Walls 209). Rex Walls wastes most of his money on alcohol; when he doesn’t have any, he finds a way to get some. While Jeannette is in charge of the families funds, Rex uses her love for him to prey on her emotions. He finds a way to get what he wants, through the simple task of getting Jeannette’s attention; since Jeannette only wants the best for her father, she struggles to keep him satisfied. While doing this, she attempts to keep herself and her siblings in a safe environment. The turmoil Jeannette undergoes with her father signifies that even though she does not want to do something, she is helpless when it comes to her father’s wants—she lives to loathe and regret it