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Broken promises are a big theme as the children navigate a complicated mix of love and disappointment. Their parents' empty promises and unstable lifestyle continually crush their hopes for a real and loving family life.

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Broken promises are a big theme as the children navigate a complicated mix of love and disappointment. Their parents' empty promises and unstable lifestyle continually crush their hopes for a real and loving family life.

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The theme of broken promises is a constant presence throughout the Memoir. For instance, Rex tells Jeannette and her siblings that they will one day live in a magnificent glass castle, assuring them that their struggles will be worthwhile once they strike gold. However, we quickly discover that these promises are just lies.

A significant moment happens when Rex asks Brian and Jeannette to dig a hole that he claims will be the foundation for their dream castle in Welch. As they work on it, they eventually realize that Rex has no intention of building anything; he just plans to use the hole to dump garbage instead. Jeannette reflects, “Brian and I watched, the hole for the Glass Castle’s foundation slowly being filled with garbage” (155). I felt like this moment really drove home the emptiness of their parents' promises and metaphorically crushed the kids' hope of ever escaping their chaotic reality.

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Unconditional love can show how intense affection can coexist with instability and neglect.

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Unconditional love can show how intense affection can coexist with instability and neglect.

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In The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls shares her challenging childhood with her parents, Rex and Rose Mary. Throughout the memoir, Jeannette and her siblings often suffer from their parents' neglect. They frequently go hungry and are left without the support they need, particularly when they talk about serious issues like sexual assault. Their parents often dismiss their injuries and concerns with indifference, which is heartbreaking.

However, there are moments in the book that show a different side of Rex and Rose Mary. For instance, Rex tells Jeannette, “You know if it’s humanly possible, I’ll get it for you. And if it ain’t humanly possible, I’ll die trying” (pg. 116). This quote highlights a glimpse of love and determination, even if it’s inconsistent and overshadowed by neglect.

These small moments really stood out to me while reading. They reveal a lot about Jeannette's character, too. Even with everything she went through, she never harshly criticizes her parents. This speaks to her resilience and ability to understand their flaws. The mix of neglect and occasional affection paints a complex picture of her upbringing, showing how it shaped her perspective on life and how she showed unconditional love to her parents.

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Sexual assault is a key theme that highlights the family's emotional neglect and their failure to protect and recognize each other's trauma.

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Sexual assault is a key theme that highlights the family's emotional neglect and their failure to protect and recognize each other's trauma.

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There are instances of sexual assault in the novel, and it just highlights the dynamic within Jeannette's family and their neglectful behavior. One major example is when Jeannette gets touched by a stranger while she’s sleeping, and her parents fail to take any action to protect her. Similarly, when Brian is inappropriately touched by Rex’s mother, Rex dismisses it, telling Brian that he should "toughen up" because he’s a man. A particularly shocking moment is when Jeannette is groped by Uncle Stanley. Instead of comforting her or standing up for her, Rose Mary says something awful: "Sexual assault was a crime of perception... If you don’t think you’re hurt, then you aren’t."(184) Hearing that was just disgusting and really hurtful because it shows how little her mom seems to care about what Jeannette went through. This moment highlights the emotional neglect in their family and how they fail to recognize the seriousness of these situations. The photo reflects when Uncle Stanly's hand was creeping up on Jeanette thigh.

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Jeannette explores the theme of forgiveness, especially when it comes to her parents. Throughout her life, Jeannette deals with the pain and neglect she experienced growing up. However, reflecting on her past, she learns to accept her parents' flaws and the tough situations that shaped them. This acceptance plays a significant role in how she understands love and family. Jeannette starts to see that her parents' lives were filled with their own struggles, which helps her develop a more refined view of forgiveness. Instead of only focusing on their mistakes, she acknowledges that they are human and that their behavior came from their issues. One of the most powerful moments in the memoir is when Jeannette says, “I realized that I was the one who had to come to terms with the people who raised me.” This highlights her journey toward acceptance. Jeannette realizes that forgiving her parents doesn’t mean she has to excuse their actions; rather, it’s about freeing herself from the anger and hurt. This change in perspective allows Jeannette to move past blaming her parents for everything that went wrong in her life. Instead, she understands that forgiveness is about her healing. By coming to terms with her childhood experiences, Jeannette reconstructs her identity and finds peace with her past. Ultimately, by taking control of her own story, Jeannette transforms her pain into strength and gains a greater appreciation for the complexities of relationships.

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Generational trauma and how it get's passed down 

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Generational trauma and how it get's passed down 

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I choose generationial trauma because of a significant moment in The Glass Castle that, although briefly mentioned, deeply highlights its impact. When Brian gets touched by his grandmother (Rex's mom), Jeannette questions Rex's casual dismissal of it and wonders aloud to Lori, “Do you think she ever did something to Dad like what she did to Brian?” (148) Although Lori advises her not to dwell on such ideas, this moment resonates with me because it opens up a crucial conversation about Rex’s own trauma. Jeannette’s question hints at how understanding Rex’s own experiences could explain why he is the way he is. It also raises the idea of how, since Rex was unable to confront his own unresolved issues, he's projecting that cycle of trauma on Brian by neglecting his emotional well-being and saying, "Brian's a man, he can take it"(148) This theme really highlights how unresolved pain can continue through generations, impacting not just one person but their entire family. The picture above is to show how marks on a parent passes down to their kids aswell, and how they view life.

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Family Dynamics and Trauma can Create A Strong Bond Within Siblings 

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Family Dynamics and Trauma can Create A Strong Bond Within Siblings 

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Family dynamics, including love and dysfunction, shape Jeannette Walls's life. Even though their parents are often neglectful, Jeannette and her siblings support each other and form a strong bond that helps them cope with their tough upbringing. A great example of this bond is when Brian arrives in New York, and Jeannette tells him, “I think he figured that, as when we were kids, we both stood a better chance if we took on the world together” (pg. 250). This sums up their relationship; they’ve always understood that they’re stronger together.

Throughout their lives, Jeannette and her siblings rely on each other to deal with the difficulties caused by their parents. Whether they are facing difficult situations or just trying to survive their unusual childhood, their loyalty to one another creates a solid foundation that helps them face the world. Ultimately, their bond showcases how love and support can thrive even in a dysfunctional family, proving that they can always count on each other, no matter what.