The Glass Castle: Literary Luminary

1) " All we had to do was find gold, Dad said, and we were on the verge of that. Once he finished the Prospector and we stuck it rich, he'd start work on our Glass Castle." pg. 25

This quote emphasizes how the Wall children had hopes built on empty promises. I think that the "Glass Castle" symbolizes the void and unfulfilled lives that the Wall family leads. Their father always told them wild memories of his past that are so unbelievable he could only ever expect his children to have faith in him. His erroneous plans to find gold seem like a barrier to keep his children from realizing that he is actually scared inside to. Just like them, he has a belly that aches for the food which he cannot provide for the family, this realization filling him with dread, making him feel as though he needs to tell these stories so his kids think he was great at one time. Stories that will make him appear as their hero.

2) "One time I saw a tiny Joshua tree sapling growing not too far from the old tree. I wanted to dig it up and replant it near our house. I told Mom that I would protect if from the wind and water it every day so that it could grow nice and tall and straight. Mom frowned at me. 'You'd be destroying what makes it special,' she said 'It's the Joshua tree's struggle that gives it its beauty'." pg. 38

This quote symbolizes the path of the Wall children. They have never lead what is considered a "normal" life. Being uprooted from each home as soon as they get settled, then moving into yet another obscure situation. With each different home comes different experiences that no child should ever have to endure. Their parents throwing their pet cat out the window, or not noticing that Jeanette tumbled out of the car while they were driving. Although these are not normal experiences for one to grow up in, they will eventually shape the Wall children's character and personality when they are adults, just like the Joshua trees unusual path.

3) "I never believed in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us." pg. 39

This quote is important because it portrays how the innocence of these children has been stolen from them. Their parents never gave it a chance of surviving. When Quixote, their pet cat was thrown out the window by their father on one of his rambunctious episodes, Jeanette started to cry, then her mother told her to stop being so sentimental. How can one expect a child to be mature if they haven't even had a chance of adolescence yet? Personally, I think this is a form of child abuse. I don't understand how someone is supposed to become a regular adult when they haven't had a chance to be a carefree child beforehand. No one should ever be denied those wondrous years of mischief, they are the base upon which you eventually will build your character.