The Glass Castle

Jeanette in the Hospital

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The first instance of conflict in Jeanette’s life was when she accidentally caught herself on fire while cooking hot dogs. She is emitted into a hospital where she receives treatment. To avoid bills though her father ends up sneaking her out.
"You just trust your old man," Dad said.(14).

The Family Leaves Town

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Soon after the hospital incident, their father forces the family to get up and leave town randomly in the middle of the night. Though he tries to make it a playful scenario for the kids, his real motive was to escape bill collectors.
“You're not supposed to laugh at your own father. Ever.”(28).

Viva Las Vegas

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Jeanette starts a fire in their toilet and soon gains a fear for her previous fascination. She believes that fire has become her opponent that is unpredictable and out to get her. She seems to create an analogy with it and her life, which shows the acknowledgement of her chaotic lifestyle.
“...what I did know was that 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.”(68).

The Move to Blythe

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In this section their father gets a job at Gypsum Mine for a while but later loses it. Their mother reveals that she has been pregnant for 10 months and gets angrily chased down by their father. This is a revealing moment for the parent’s relationship. It shows the abusive behaviors and selfish actions the parents choose to make.
“If you want to be treated like a mother, you should act like one.”(101).

Now in Battle Mountain

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Jeanette meets a boy named Billy who becomes close with her. He peaks romantic interest, which follows an attempt to force himself on to Jeanette. When Jeanette promptly pushes him away, he later tries to shoot at their house with a BB gun.
“‘You West Virginia girls are one tough breed,’ he said. ‘You got that right,’ I told him.”(132).

Staying at Erma’s

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The family starts staying at their grandma’s house. When Erma shows racist and behavior of sexual harassment towards the family and others, the siblings begin to rely on one another due to their parents inconsistency on morals when it comes to means of survival.
“‘I hate Erma,’ I told Mom...‘You have to show compassion for her...' She added that you should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies.’”(185).

The Way Out

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Jeanette confronts her parents about their selfish behavior and gets whipped by her father. Her sister, Lori, and her then flee to New York City and build their own lives. Jeanette creates a new life for herself by going to college, finding love, and getting a career.
“...as soon as I finish classes, I’m getting on the next bus out of here. If the bus stops running, I’ll hitchhike. I’ll walk if I have to. Go ahead and build the Glass Castle, but don’t do it for me.”(212).

Toast to Dad

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Their dad eventually dies from illness, and the family goes through individual issues. Five years later though, Jeanette hosts a Thanksgiving dinner with them, and they reminisce on their days with their father.
“We had some times, didn't we?''We did.''Never did build that Glass Castle.''No. But we had fun planning it.”(270).

You grow through what you go through.

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