The Glass Castle Essay Example

align="justify">Arm's husband and Uncle Stanley resided in the same house. The second floor of the house had not been used for many years, so the children slept downstairs. The house had a cold atmosphere and it emitted a smell of mold, cigarettes, and unwashed laundry. Later that night, Arm scolded the children for laughing, stating that there should be no laughter in her house. A few days later, Jennet and Brian went to enroll in classes at Wheel's elementary school. The principal placed them in special classes assuming they did not understand his language and considered them unintelligent.

In Welch, there were many children of different races who would stare at and bully them, using offensive language. One particular girl, named Dietitian Hewitt, acted as the leader of this group. One day after school, Jennet heard the sound of someone screaming and a dog barking. She discovered a young boy being chased by a dog and immediately came to his rescue. Dietitian observed this from across the street. The following day, Dietitian approached Jennet for help with her English assignment and expressed gratitude for bringing the boy home safely. Despite Jennet's kind nature, her grandmother has been mocking her and using harsh words due to her interest in engineering.

Jennet received criticism for expressing her thoughts and went to bed without eating. Her parents, Mom and Dad, made the decision to drive their Oldsmobile back to Phoenix in order to retrieve their belongings that had been left there. Unfortunately, when they arrived at their house, they discovered that it had been burglarized and all of their possessions were stolen. Meanwhile, conflicts between Arm and the

children arose during their absence. Upon their return, Jennet's parents were met with shouts and decided to go out on their own in search of a new home. This specific account is from Welch's eighth journal entry. Eventually, Jennet's parents purchased a small house consisting of only one room with no indoor plumbing, heating system or reliable electrical wiring.

In the absence of a garbage service in the area, they chose to fill the foundation with trash. Jennet was embarrassed by the house's appearance and decided to paint it bright yellow using paint her dad had brought from a job. Despite her family's disapproval, she took on the task alone. Eventually, the paint dried and half of the house remained yellow. One afternoon, Jennet received an invitation from an acquaintance to visit Genie See's house, intending to learn about the life of a prostitute.

However, Jennet's questions were forgotten as she became absorbed in helping Genie Sue strip a chicken carcass for soup. The three kids frequently fought in Welch more than anywhere else they lived. Their peers looked down on them because their house was in disarray and they lacked basic resources, with worn-out and old clothing. Rexes' alcohol problem escalated significantly while living in Welch. He had difficulty maintaining employment and would frequently vanish for a few days. Despite tight finances, Rexes would often take some of the household income for himself.

In that particular year, winter was harsh and Jennet's mother made the decision not to spend money on coal. While other families in their neighborhood received government assistance and were not facing such a difficult situation like Jennet's family, her parents

insisted that they did not require any help and were content with their circumstances. Tragically, Arm passed away during that winter, which greatly affected the Rexes. Arm had a completely different approach compared to Grandma Smith, treating the children as a bother rather than showing them the love and care that Grandma Smith often expressed. In addition, it becomes apparent that Arm also harbored prejudices and exhibited some disturbing sexual tendencies.

Spring that year wasn't ideal either with frequent rain and a large hole in the kitchen ceiling. The family resorted to using the back window as a door due to the porch collapsing. During one night, Jennet and Brian discovered a valuable ring, but instead of selling it, their mother decided to keep it for herself, emphasizing the importance of confidence over money. While I agree with this sentiment, in times of desperate financial need, parents should do whatever they can for their children, something Jennet's mother failed to do. The weather in Welch was unbearably hot.

During a visit to the community pool, she experienced ridicule from others. To avoid paying for entry, she came up with the idea of inviting someone named Dietitian to accompany her in the mornings. One evening, a social worker visited her home in search of her parents but found them absent. Consequently, her mother was forced to find employment, which posed difficulties since she often refused to wake up and go to work. The principal of the school became infuriated by her disorganization. Now in seventh grade, Jennet believed that braces were necessary but discovered they were too costly. As a result, she resorted to creating makeshift

braces on her own.

When Rexes arrived home one evening, she was astonished by what she witnessed and complimented the creator. Throughout that summer, Rexes' mother had to attend classes, leaving Rexes responsible for managing the finances. Jennet accompanied her father to a business meeting and encountered an individual at the bar. Fortunately, she handled the situation independently. Driven to secure employment at a jewelry store, Jennet falsified her age. Nonetheless, the store owner remained skeptical and meticulously counted everything before and after Jennet's departure. Meanwhile, Lori opted to sculpt a clay bust of Shakespeare in hopes of obtaining a scholarship.

Despite dedicating weeks of hard work to it, her father returned home and disrespected her efforts by smudging Shakespearean mouth. This action greatly upset Lori. One evening, she found Oz broken and empty on the floor, leading her to realize that her father was responsible. She waited for his return but he never showed up. When he finally arrived, she confronted him with anger, only receiving a few crumpled dollars in response. Jennet attempted to gather funds for Lori's trip to New York City but fell short of the necessary amount. However, Mrs. Sanders, whom she had been babysitting for, informed Jennet about their plans to move to Iowa and invited Lori to spend the summer there with them.

If Jennet helped look after her toddlers, Mrs. Sanders promised to pay her $200 at the end of the summer and buy her a ticket home. However, Jennet declined and suggested Lori as a replacement, asking Mrs. Sanders if she could buy her a ticket to New York City instead. Mrs. Sanders agreed and Lori

left without speaking to her dad. Her dad expressed concern about the family falling apart, which Jennet agreed with. In tenth grade, Jeannine became the editor of The Maroon Wave and dedicated everyday to working on it. Instead of having lunch in the bathroom, she used that time to work on the paper, even though it was only published once a month.

When Jeannine was a Junior, she became the editor in chief instead of a senior. That year, Chuck Yeager, who was her father's hero, visited Welch. He assisted her with the interview by thoroughly answering all of her questions.

This paragraph describes the moment when Nanette departs for New York City. Both she and Brian struggled to sleep as they anxiously awaited her departure. Nanette's father was absent that night, but he appeared on the steps as she climbed out of the window.

Accompanying her to the bus stop, he gave her his beloved Jackknife, which generated strong emotions because despite his imperfections, he consistently supported her and tried to be the best father he could. When Jennet got off the train, Loris's friend Even greeted her. They playfully exchanged banter and she saw his reaction as genuine. Lori works at a German restaurant. After finishing work, they took a short tour of New York City together. Initially, Jennet worked at a hamburger joint but later quit to pursue a full-time reporter position at The Phoenix.

Jennet maintained contact with Brian and arranged for him to move in with her. Her boss informed her that she could secure a better job if she had a college degree. Consequently, she applied to Bernard,

the sister college of Columbia University, and was accepted. Jennet was able to cover most of the tuition with grants and loans. Upon hearing that Maureen had injured her head after falling off the porch, Lori believed it was time for Maureen to relocate to New York City. Personally, I enjoyed this part as it demonstrated Jennet's growth and independence in moving to a bustling city and taking care of herself. It truly showcased her maturity.

Three years after Jennet's arrival in New York, she was getting ready for class while listening to the radio when she heard the news about a van breaking down and causing a spill. The van managed to escape capture. Later that night, her mother called and told her that Rexes and his wife had moved to New York City. They initially stayed in a boardinghouse but struggled with paying rent. Eventually, they started sleeping in their van until it was towed for being parked in a prohibited area. This unfortunate incident marked the moment when Jennet's parents became homeless.

Despite Jennet and Lori's attempts to help them, the individuals in question declined any assistance, claiming that they were content with their homeless status and found it thrilling. However, after a year had passed, Jennet faced the prospect of abandoning her education. Thankfully, her father discovered the situation and promptly returned the following day with enough money to resolve her predicament. Subsequently, Jennet's parents stumbled upon an occupied building where they settled as squatters. Gradually, Jennet comprehended that her parents were troubled by her living conditions; it was their longing for luxury that plagued them. She held onto the belief

that John, her soon-to-be husband whom she now resided with on Park Avenue would lavish her with gifts.

In a state of panic, her mother urgently explained the need for one million dollars to purchase a property. Regrettably, she discovered that her own long-held property was valued at the same amount. This realization greatly upset her as it meant she could have sold the property and assisted her family but chose not to do so.

Lori worked as a freelance artist in New York City, specializing in fantasy illustrations. Additionally, she designed game board and book jackets. Conversely, when Brian reached the age of twenty, he decided to join the police force. This decision disgusted his father who had hoped for his son to be part of the Gestapo.

After completing high school, Maureen opted to pursue higher education at a state college. However, her commitment to academics waned and she eventually dropped out. Consequently, she continued residing with her parents while juggling various temporary jobs. Throughout this period, she predominantly spent her days in their apartment partaking in activities such as smoking, reading, and painting nudes. In an effort to alter her appearance, Maureen even went so far as to bleach both her hair and eyebrows but quickly realized it had adverse effects on her overall aesthetic.

Nevertheless, there came a crucial moment when Maureen's mother directly confronted her about the trajectory of her life. This confrontation ignited something within Maureen that triggered a loss of self-control. Tragically, she resorted to brutally stabbing her own mother.

After being arrested and denied bail, Maureen was taken to a hospital in upstate. Once released, she abruptly

relocated to California without saying goodbye. This behavior can be attributed to the fact that Maureen always had neighbors taking care of her back home. However, in her new location, she had no one looking out for her and had to fend for herself. The actions of Maureen's parents are relevant here as some believe that her upbringing may have contributed to this sudden change in behavior. Following Maureen's departure, Lori and Jennet rarely saw their parents anymore. Additionally, Brian moved to Long Island with his wife and daughter.

Jennet's father disclosed to her that he would soon die, mentioning that he had achieved a peaceful state commonly found in tropical regions. Jennet finds it difficult to imagine a world without him, as his love for her was exceptional and made him unique. After two weeks, her father suffered a heart attack. In the following months, Jennet consistently yearned to be somewhere else. One year later, her father passed away and she ended her relationship with Eric – a respectable man but not the right one for her. The emotional anguish caused by her father's death was intense. Despite his many unkept promises, there was something about him that made his story resonate more deeply.

Despite his alcohol problems, he was a great father with a positive outlook on life.

A few years later, Thanksgiving was hosted by Jennet at her country farmhouse where she lived with her new husband John. Both John and Jennet have similar backgrounds - John was a writer who authored books and magazine articles, while also having a nomadic childhood. Greeting everyone were Jessica, John's fifteen-year-old daughter, along with Brian

and his eight-year-old daughter Veronica. Brian had achieved the rank of decorated sergeant detective and went through a divorce around the same time as Eric and Jennet did.

Brian found solace in purchasing a house in Brooklyn, which brought him comfort. The dinner was a joyous occasion as everyone raised their glasses to celebrate Rexes and reminisced about both the pleasant and unpleasant memories associated with him. These sections collectively illustrate the transformation and growth that Jennet has undergone over the years, ultimately obtaining everything she desired. Following the demise of her father, she came to the realization that it wasn't material wealth and extravagance that she truly longed for, but rather love and affection – qualities that perfectly align with John, making him an ideal partner for her.

Thoughts: Rexes was my favorite character, despite not always being loyal. He loved Jennet in a unique way compared to anyone else.

Despite his difficult childhood, I disliked how he turned to alcohol to resolve his issues. As a father, he should have been there for his children. Similarly, I had no fondness for Jennet's mother who exhibited selfish behavior by spending all her money on art supplies. Despite her belief that she didn't require assistance, it was evident that she did. My greatest admiration goes to Jennet who overcame numerous challenges and managed to pursue her dreams and marry into wealth without letting anyone hinder her. Her siblings, Lori and Brian, also demonstrated remarkable strength in their lives. Despite being subjected to mental abuse during their childhood, they both achieved success. It is astounding how they overcame their difficult pasts to be where they are

now.