Importance Of Money In The Yellow Wall's Home

Rex uses most of the family’s money for himself making him to be a weak support for the children. Rex has a difficult time holding a job but that doesn’t mean he will stop drinking booze to save money. Rex believes he should be in charge of the money even though Rosemary is the only one working. Attempting to avoid him having access to all the money, Rosemary hides some of the money on the kids (Walls 77). Rex cares to have all his pleasures, liquor, cigarettes, and extravagant meals, more than knowing his family is not going to bed hungry. Taking money from his wife isn’t enough for Rex; sometimes he needs to go to extreme measures. The children are earning money for Lori to leave for New York City. They almost have enough until, “Someone had slashed him apart with a knife and stole all the money. I knew it was Dad,” (Walls 228). Rex is already so self-absorbed when to comes to providing for the family. It is even worse that he feels so desperate to take from his own children. Now they will have a harder time getting out of their living conditions. Rex will do anything to fulfill his thirst for alcohol and cigarettes, even if it means to just bluntly ask. With her mother and older sister gone, Jeannette had to try and control her father and take care of the rest of the family. “‘Hon, I need some money,’ he said. ‘For what?’

By doing this, he is putting the children through a great deal of trauma which is emotional or physically harmful to the kids’ well being. He is exerting power and control over his children using intimidation and abuse. All these examples given show how Rex is impacting the children negatively, yet he has the audacity to deny that by asking his children, “Have I ever let you down?” (Walls). The Walls’ children are overcome many struggles including their father, Rex, who wastes their money, slashes their hopes, and abuses their