The Glass Castle Themes by Fernando Manzo

Broken Promises

fernymzo88 — 2025-02-27 20:01:31 UTC

"...brain and I watched, the hole for the Glass Castle's foundation slowly filled with garbage" (155). This quote demonstrates that their dad yet again fails to keep his promise to build the glass castle. Their dad filled there "foundation" for the glass castle with trash and says its just temporary. There kids already realize that their dad isn't going to keep his promise. Now the ditch resembles all the broken promises there dad has told them.

True Happiness

fernymzo88 — 2025-02-27 20:40:47 UTC

"I had just turned eighteen. I quit my job at the hamburger joint the next day and became a full time reporter for the Phoenix. I'd never been happier in my life" (248). Jeannette had just moved out of her parents house never thinking she would be truly happy. When she moved to New York City she had found a job she loved and a place to stay. She is truly happy with her work and her decision leaving Welch. Jeannette had fallen in love with her new life and working for a small time news paper.

Betrayal

fernymzo88 — 2025-02-27 20:48:55 UTC

"When I tried rolling away, he pinned back my arms. Dad said to holler if I needed him, but I didn't want to scream. I was so angry at Dad that I couldn't bear the idea of him rescuing me" (212-213). Jeannette's dad had taken her to the bar and was planning to use her and her beauty to scam people. After he successful pimped out his daughter and scored himself forty dollars. His daughter didn't even want to scream for her dad because the thought of her dad saving her didn't sit right with her.

Anger

fernymzo88 — 2025-03-03 19:25:40 UTC

" I spent days on that... you've ruined it... I don't want to set the world on edge... I just want to win a stupid little scholarship" (227). Lori shows her anger/ frustration towards her father after he ruins her clay sculpture of William Shakespeare. the sculpture that was going to give a free ride to a university and she could leave Welch and her parents. Rex also shows anger towards Lori claiming shakespeare is a fraud and getting mad at Lori for building a clay sculpture.

Forgiveness

fernymzo88 — 2025-03-03 19:39:47 UTC

Lori let her parents stay in her apartment "for just a week or two" then it became "one month at lori's became two months and then three months and four" (253). After everything their parents did to them when they were children Lori still gave her parents a home. Even after they were kicked out from the apartments they were renting from and almost becoming homeless. Lori knew that they almost burned down the last apartment they were in and even after they brought pets and their junk and essentially trashed her apartment she let them stay for four months.

Acceptance

fernymzo88 — 2025-03-03 19:48:57 UTC

" We should drink a toast for Rex" (288). Jeanette and John hosted thanksgiving and they invited Brain, Lori and Rose Mary to celebrate thanksgiving. After everything there parents did to them as children and neglecting them. John offered a toast to Rex to honor him and everyone accepted and no one declined. The kids knew that there parents weren't perfect and they had a rough childhood but they accepted for who they were. They didn't reminisce on all the bad memories they had about Rex, they only focused on the positive and laughed it off.