The Glass Castle Test by javier

Against all odds, resilience and perseverance prevail

jchorecas — 2025-02-27 20:25:12 UTC

The picture connects to the theme that perseverance always prevails because, just like in the picture, Jeanette was able to move to New York City with Lori and begin a new life there. On page 245 it states, "When the bus pulled into the terminal, I collected my suitcase and walked to the middle of the station. A blur of hurrying bodies streamed past me, leaving me feeling like a stone in a creek." After a horrid and traumatizing childhood living with her parents, Jeanette was finally able to afford to move to New York City with her sister, Lori. Jeanette and Lori were able to adapt to their lifestyle in Welch, and they persevered and sought a prosperous life in New York. Following Jeanette's arrival, she found a job at a local hamburger joint, and she was finally able to make some money for herself. Lori and Jeanette were able to find an apartment that both of them could live in and Lori helped find a public school where Jeanette was able to find internships around New York City. After working at a local newspaper outlet, The Phoenix, Jeanette applied to Barnard college where she was accepted and received grants. Lori and Jeanette were finally able to make a sustainable life in New York without their parents.

Hunger, fear, and neglect bound them together stronger than blood ever could

jchorecas — 2025-03-02 07:49:47 UTC

The picture connects to the theme that the bond between the siblings is incredibly strong because in the picture, it shows 3 siblings that have a strong bond with each other, and like them, the Walls children also have a strong bond with each other and continue to look out for each other. On page 223 the book states, "I told Lori about my escape fund, the seventy-five dollars I've saved. From now on, I said, it would be our joint fund. We'd take on extra work after school and put everything we earned into the piggy bank. Lori could take it to New York and use it to get established." This quote supports the theme that the children are very loving and loyal to each other throughout the entire book. Lori, Brian, and Jeanette all decide to work longer hours and more often just so Lori has an opportunity to move to New York City. Their willingness to work together and put their earnings into a joint fund demonstrates the strength of their bond because they chose to prioritize Lori's future instead of immediate needs such as food and stable living conditions. The joint fund is a symbol of their commitment toward each other's futures and shows that even though they live in harsh conditions, they are still trying to make a life for themselves.

They were Seen but Never Truly Looked after

jchorecas — 2025-03-02 07:50:18 UTC

This picture connects to the theme that Rose Mary and Rex were neglectful to how their children felt because just like how the child in the picture is being ignored, Jeanette nd her siblings were often disregarded by their parents. On page 184, the book states "Mom asked me if I was okay. I shrugged and nodded. 'Well, there you go,' she said. She said that sexual assault was a crime of perception. 'If you don't think you're hurt, then you aren't,' she said. 'So many women make such a big deal out of these things. But you're stronger than that.' She went back to her crossword puzzle." This quote highlights the idea that Rex and Rose Mary neglect their children. The context of this quote is that Uncle Stanley had just inappropriately groped Jeanette. Instead of offering support or protection, Rose Mary brushes off what Jeanette had just told her as if it wasn't important. By returning to her crossword puzzle, Rose Mary demonstrates emotional detachment from her children and how neglectful she is toward them. This is just one of many moments in the memoir where Rose Mary neglects her children and Jeanette, and her siblings are left to protect themselves.

Some Dreams are Just Beautiful Lies

jchorecas — 2025-03-02 09:01:39 UTC

This picture goes along with the theme of dreams and illusions because building the glass castle was a broken dream for Jeanette and Brian. On page 155 the book states "He explained that he was going to hire a truck to cart the garbage to the dump all at once. But he never got around to that, either, and as Brian and I watched the hole for the Glass Castle's foundation slowly fill with garbage." This quote showcases the idea of false hopes because the children believed in their father and their dream of building the glass castle, but filling the foundation with trash crushed their hopes. For years, Rex had promised to build his family a large castle made entirely out of glass, but this moment in the book shows that he was never truly committed to his dream. At this moment, Jeanette and Brian realize that Rex's dreams were nothing more than illusions designed to distract them from their harsh childhood. Rather than building a beautiful home, Rex leads his children on with an empty fantasy, leaving them with nothing but disappointment.

They had Nothing, yet they turned away help

jchorecas — 2025-03-02 09:05:15 UTC

The picture relates to the theme of poverty because on Little Hobart Street, the Walls family was living in a rundown house, and they were extremely poor. On page 159 the book states, "Although we were the poorest family on Little Hobart Street, Mom and Dad never applied for welfare or food stamps, and they always refused charity. When teachers gave us bags of clothes from church drives, Mom made us take them back." This quote shows that even while they were incredibly poor. Rose Mary and Rex did not help one bit by rejecting handouts. Opportunities for help such as food stamps, welfare, and donated clothing surrounded them but instead of prioritizing their children's well-being, Rose Mary and Rex rejected these opportunities due to having a sense of self-reliance. These opportunities could have eased their struggles and would have helped them greatly, and allowed them to live a more comfortable life than the life they chose. The children were forced to start working to make money to be able to sustain themselves. Meanwhile, Rose Mary did not like the idea of working and Rex was a lazy alcoholic.

No School, No Structure, Just the Raw Lessons of Life

jchorecas — 2025-03-03 06:36:47 UTC

This picture relates to the theme of unconventional parenting because Rex and Rose Mary influenced their children to read from a very young age so they would read for fun. On page 20 the book states "We might enroll in school, but not always. Mom and Dad did most of our teaching. Mom had us all reading books without pictures by the time we were five, and Dad taught us math. He showed us how to aim and fire his pistol and how to shoot Mom's bow and arrow." This quote highlights the fact that Rose Mary and Rex's parenting style was out of the ordinary. They were not big fans of enrolling their children into school and they believed that they were capable of educating their children themselves. This was unusual because by the time the children were very young, they would read classic literature, including works from Shakespeare, which was well beyond their level. They spent their evenings huddled together reading the dictionary for fun instead of playing outside like other children. Rex introduced them to astronomy and math and would often have conversations with his children about these topics. Rex and Rose Mary rejected the traditional educational systems and believed gaining knowledge through self-teaching and hands-on experience was good for their children.