The Glass Castle of Shattered Dreams by Caleb Szychulda

Resilience

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:48:47 UTC

“Things usually work out in the end."
"What if they don't?"
"That just means you haven't come to the end yet.”

- Rose Mary

The lone plant growing in rough terrain reflects the idea that strength can emerge from adversity. This quote echoes this sentiment, suggesting that despite uncertainties, things have a way of working out eventually.

Parental Neglect

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:49:04 UTC

“Mom always said people worried too much about their children. Suffering when you're young is good for you, she said. It immunized your body and your soul, and that was why she ignored us kids when we cried. Fussing over children who cry only encouraged them, she told us. That's positive reinforcement for negative behavior.”

- Jeannette Walls

Jeannette's explanation of her mother's view on her children's wellbeing gives a perfect depiction of her as a mother. She doesn't care about her kids, she even admits it. She excuses her awful parenting by saying that suffering is good for you. The image showing a passed out drunk father with a small child in the background correlates perfectly to the memoir, in which Rex and Rose Mary often used their little money to fuel their addictions instead of taking care of their children.

Illusions and Escapism

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:49:16 UTC

"I began looking through all the junk in the bedroom and finally found Oz on the floor. Someone had slashed him apart with a knife and stolen all the money."

- Jeannette Walls

At this very moment where all the money they had saved up was stolen by their own father, it seemed to the children that no matter what they did, they would always be set back and not allowed to escape from their living hell. The image of a man desperately trying to escape from prison correlates to the Walls children trying to escape from the prison that was living with their parents.

Shattered Dreams

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:49:30 UTC

“We had some times, didn't we?'
'We did.'
'Never did build that Glass Castle.'
'No. But we had fun planning it.”

- Rex Walls

In this quote, Rex Walls admits to his broken promises for once without backing it up with new ones and lying that he wouldn't do it again. The image shows how Jeannette must have been feeling at the time, tired of all the lies and shattered dreams from living with her parents. This can be seen in her annoyed and dry remarks to her dad.

Nonconformity and Acceptance

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:50:21 UTC

“I lived in a world that at any moment could erupt into fire. It was the sort of knowledge that kept you on your toes.”

- Jeannette Walls

Jeannette knows that her lifestyle was completely unlike any average person, but she has come to accept her nonconformity. The picture showing the blue bird separated from the group illustrates the nonconformity in Jeannette's lifestyle, and the nonchalant look on the birds face reflects her acceptance of it.

Redemption

389514_ — 2023-12-07 03:50:31 UTC

“You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love the person for that.”

- Rose Mary

In the book's theme of redemption, the children find a way to overcome their tough upbringing. Rose Mary's quote fits in because it suggests that even when people face challenges or make mistakes, there's still something good in them. The children, despite the difficulties they went through, work towards redeeming themselves by finding the positive aspects in their lives and in each other. This theme of redemption shows that no matter where you start, you can change and grow into a better person.