Summary Of The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls

When a small three year old girl is on fire, it’s obvious that there is something wrong. This memoir focuses on one woman’s troubled childhood and rocky family life. Although most readers of The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, have argued that Rex Walls, the father of the author, is the worst role model for children, closer examination shows that Rose Walls, the mother, actually sets a worse example for the kids. Without a doubt, most people think the town drunk is the worst type of parent a child can have, however I feel this isn’t always the case. Jeannette Walls’ mother is an emotionally damaging and selfish woman who doesn't know how to see the logical side of her problems. She is known to never think ahead for the future, which isn’t what a mom of four children

The dried-out needles caught fire immediately. Flames leapt through the branches with a crackling noise. Christmas ornaments exploded from the heat” (115). Rex has no compassion for the rest of his family in times like this, but in others he really does care about his family members. When 17 year old Jeannette is leaving for New York City, the dad is very somber, but still provides Jeannette with some protection and he reassures her she can return home if need be. Although Jeannette knows this won’t be happening, she leaves home knowing her father really cares for her. In contrast, Jeannette’s mother never even bothered to see her daughter leave home, and takes a different approach to the departure, Jeannette recalls, “Mom announced that since she was not by nature an early riser, she would not be getting up to see me off” (240). Sadly, her mother doesn’t care if she sees her daughter leave, and she opts for a lame goodbye the previous night, but it was just one of many times when the children had no supporting mother to turn to. Jeannette and her siblings