Glass Castle Themes by wylie Nelson

Non-Conformity

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 17:45:07 UTC

This picture shows how Jeannette and her siblings were treated in school and around town, mainly during their stay at Welch. Jeannette was ridiculed for just being different in Welch. Kids made fun of her for wearing the same clothes every day, the way she looked, and even how she answered questions at school. This quote from Jeannette: “I had learned to fend for myself, and that was a skill no one could take away" shows how even though she was made fun of for almost everything else that she did, no one could take away her fighting and enduring spirit.

Chaos and Order

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 18:09:24 UTC

This picture represents how Jeannette and her family would all have dinner at the dinner table on rare occasions. The quote, "We had a wild, unpredictable life, but we found moments of order in the madness, like when we sat together at the dinner table," shows that even through all of the madness and chaos of the Walls' life, the family could still find some peace in activities like gathering at the dinner table for a meal or even when they all found their own book to read. Even Rex and Rose Marry, the causes of this chaos, found some peace and order when at the dinner table or when silently reading together.

Self-sufficiency

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 18:09:37 UTC

The image of a teenager working a job mirrors Jeannette’s ability to become self-sufficient early in life, like when she got a job at the jewelry store to provide for herself and her siblings. With parents who often neglected or failed to provide, Jeannette had to learn how to take care of herself. The quote "There were times when I had to take care of myself—no one else was going to do it for me." reinforces this by expressing that, in her chaotic childhood, no one was there to take care of her, so she had to develop survival skills and independence.

Disappointment

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 18:09:48 UTC

This picture represents disappointment, like when Rex broke oz and stole Jeannette and Lori's "escape fund" for New York and then straight up lied to them when they asked him about it. The quote “If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim" shows how even though Rex and Rose Marry disappointed Jeannette many times she couldn't dwell on it. If she dwelled on the disappointment then she wouldn't be able to keep moving forward and keep surviving every day.

Broken promises

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 18:10:00 UTC

This image represents how Rex Walls kept promising that he was going to build a "Glass Castle" for his family that was completely self-sufficient and could run off solar power. He said that everyone would have their own run with a lot of space, and the house would have running water. The quote, “We waited for the glass castle, but it never materialized. We were left with only the ruins of our dreams," shows how Rex made far-reaching promises to his family over and over again. His family believed most of his promises and they were let down by almost of them

Forgiveness

wylie383348 — 2025-02-27 18:10:13 UTC

The picture represents the cottage that Jeannette and her husband built for Rose Marry after they bought their farm. The quote “I learned that forgiveness was the key to healing, not just for them, but for myself.” shows that even Rose Mary put her and all of her siblings through the trauma that they view as a childhood, she still forgives her and loves, even though Rose Mary told her many times that she is not sorry the way that she raised them.