The Glass Castle by Daniella Marcial

Dedication and commitment can fulfill your goals.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 22:14:46 UTC

The picture of the man pushing a boulder reminds me of Lori and Jeanette's hard work. The quote on pages 223 and 224, “Lori had such a backlog order that she was up working until one or two in the morning. I made money babysitting and doing kids’ homework” indicates their efforts of saving up money to move from Welch to New York City. The money Lori and Jeannette earn represents the progress towards their goal, proving their dedication and motivating them to continue. Their shared responsibility strengthens their bond to each other and their aspirations. Even though Rex ends up stealing the money, Jeannette finds another solution to make Lori move out once she graduates, symbolizing that dedication and commitment can fulfill your goals.

Trauma stays with someone forever.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 22:30:06 UTC

This picture reflects Brian and Rex as the small wolf since they both went through the same traumatic situation of getting assaulted by Erma. A quote that signifies this is "Why was he shaking his head so hard, almost like he wanted to put his hands over his ears, when I tried to explain what Erma had been doing to Brian" on page 148. This quotation shows Rex acting all strangely when Jeannette tries to tell him about Brian's assault. He shakes his head, as if he does not want to hear it. This perfectly captures how trauma can stay with someone forever because this quote shows that Rex has his own issues from the past that he does not want to confront. Perhaps Erma sexually assaulting him has happened to him as well, making it difficult for him to deal with Brian's situation now. By not listening, Rex is essentially ignoring Brian's feelings. This demonstrates how past troubles can make it difficult to deal with current problems.

Acceptance is a great way to move on.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 22:30:11 UTC

The picture of the hands and the birds is reflective of the time when Rose Mary held her glass up and everyone else during Thanksgiving on page 288 after she said, "Life with your father was never boring." Regardless of what Rex made them go through, they all still love him and accept his chaotic and unpredictable nature, even if it caused hardship. This is an example that acceptance can help you move on because now the family only focuses on the positive side of their relationship with Rex. It's like they are saying that the bond was very unique and irreplaceable, despite the difficulties they faced together. However, this love is complex, existing alongside pain and dysfunction, making it a tested and strengthened form of unconditional love.

Promises make an impact on relationships.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 22:36:29 UTC

The broken drinking glass represents Rex's broken promises to Jeanette about building the Glass Castle. A quote that reflects this is "Go ahead and build the Glass Castle, but don't do it for me" on page 238 when Jeannette at some point chooses to move to New York City after high school, but her father uses the Glass Castle plans to convince her to stay. This represents her loss of faith in his commitments, meaning that she no longer believes in the dream and is refusing to wait for it. Rejecting the Glass Castle means breaking free from the cycle of disappointment and dependence made by her parents. She has chosen to take control of her life and pursue her dreams rather than waiting for her father to do so.

Neglectful parents always put themselves first.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 22:37:03 UTC

The lady's crown represents Rose Mary's narcissistic and selfish personality when she hides chocolate from Jeanette, Brian, Lori, and Maureen. On page 174, Jeanette illustrates, "...we had nothing to eat, and we were all sitting around in the living room trying not to think of food." Brian noticed Rose Mary eating a family-sized Hershey chocolate bar. This represents neglect because she never puts food on the table, and her children were always eating from the trash; therefore, she wasn't considering them when she ate the chocolate. Rose Mary claims she is a "sugar addict" and that they "should forgive her the same way they always forgave their dad for his drinking."

Unconditional love exists regardless of how imperfect a person can be.

daniellapm07 — 2025-02-27 23:10:19 UTC

The lock is reflective of the time when Jeannette's father was dying in the hospital and that her love for him still stays even if there are some times she shouldn't. When Jeannette says this about her father, "As awful as he could be, I always knew he loved me in a way no one else ever had" (page 279), it perfectly illustrates unconditional love exists regardless of how imperfect a person can be. This proves that Rex's unconditional love for his daughter existed regardless of his horrible actions. The phrase "no one else had" makes their relationship special and unique and suggests that she accepts him, even with his flaws. This demonstrates that love can be strong even when people can be horrible.