-
Las Vegas, Nevada
"I was on fire," (P. 9) Jeannette (currently three years old) was cooking hot dogs, alone, when suddenly she catches on fire. Most of us can't remember anything before six years old, but Jeannette's rough living conditions helped her memory. "The earliest childhood memories recalled by adults are often of emotional events," (Krystine I. Batcho Ph.D.) so these injuries (and living in poor conditions which causes a lot of stress) helped Jeannette remember much of her early childhood. -
Battle Mountain, Nevada
Jeannette is constantly reminded that she needs to be an adult and there is no room for a childhood, even though she's eight years old. Dad forces her to learn how to swim, even if it means hurting her. He says, "If you don't want to sink, you better figure out how to swim" (p. 65). Even though she was in pain, Dad was insistent on teaching her that she needs to grow up saying, "you can't cling to the side your whole life" (p. 66). Her dad also taught her pain is an important part in learning. -
Phoenix, Arizona
Jeannette's parents constantly teach their kids not to have negative emotions. Her parents only think in the present, and when their kids feel any negativity, they suppress those feelings. She's not allowed to believe in Santa, get upset after their cat is thrown out of the car, and can't be sad when their grandmother has passed away. When that happens, not only does her mom tell her bluntly, "Grandma's dead," but when Jeannette gets upset, her mom says, "There's no reason to grieve" (p. 92). -
Welch, West Virginia: Part 1
The family moves to Welch to live with Dad's mom, Erma. Now the kids have more adults to worry about. Erma is an abusive, controlling, scary old lady, who Jeannette's parents don't stand up to. Erma sends her to bed without dinner, doesn't allow her friends at home, and even molests Jeannette's brother. Her parents don't defend them, and thus she finally learns that her parents can't be trusted. The kids are left to fend for themselves and realize not everyone is as "easygoing" as their parents. -
Welch, West Virginia: Part 3
Jeannette has trouble making friends because her parents lack of control over their kids. They're often left unchecked (allowed to explode chemicals, hunt perverts, etc.) and their parents even join them in similar activities. The ASPCC proves this is why she can't make friends stating, "This [not punished for mistakes] has negative effects on the relationships that the child gets into. Co existing with others becomes difficult and such a child is more likely to make more enemies than friends." -
Welch, West Virginia: Part 2
The family leaves Erma. Dad is often missing, Jeannette makes new enemies, Mom thinks more for herself, and the family drifts apart. One night while the kids were starving, they caught Mom eating a candy bar. She doesn't apologize. "She told us we should forgive her the same way we always forgave Dad for his drinking. None of us said a thing" (p. 174). As the children spend more time fending for themselves (and visiting other families), they start to realize they need to escape their parents. -
Welch, West Virginia: Part 4
After seeing what life is like for normal families, Jeannette and Lori agree that it's time to leave.They save up money and hide it from Mom and Dad. Jeannette is offered a summer job away from Welch, but gives it to Lori instead. Jeannette becomes the editor of her school newspaper too. Without the burden of her selfish parents, Jeannette is able to find her passion in writing in which she later turns into a career. It seems she becomes more successful as she spends less time with her parents. -
Welch, West Virginia: Part 5
Lori takes the job and leaves Welch. Jeannette saves up money and thinks about moving to New York to live with her. Dad blames Jeannette for the family falling apart, but she has spent enough time away from her parents to see through the nonsense. She finally builds up the courage and says to Dad, "You'll never build the glass castle" (p. 239). Jeannette leaves, and only Dad goes to say goodbye. She has learned to see through her parents foolery, but her mom still doesn't want to show emotions. -
New York, New York: Part 1
Jeanette and Lori are free of Mom and Dad. They have jobs, finish school, own an apartment together, and most importantly are successful because they're not weighed down by their parents anymore. They even have enough money to bring Brian and Maureen there. Escaping Mom and Dad has shown them they can be successful all on their own. Then, Mom and Dad move to the city. They're homeless, but in one of the first times Dad does something truly selfless, he gives Jeannette $90 to finish college. -
New York, New York: Part 2
Jeannette is largely stress free, successful, and even marries. She discovers her mom lied and her land she wouldn't sell is worth $1 million, and looses the little faith she had left in her. Dad has a heart attack and dies, Maureen stabbs mom, and Jeannette divorces. Jeannette isn't burdened by her family anymore and can finally live. She remarries and feels, for once, truly happy. Without her parents, she realizes it was them who were holding her back and is now able to look toward the future. -
Works Cited
Batcho, Krystine l. “What Your Oldest Memories Reveal About You.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 4 Apr. 2015, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/longing-nostalgia/201504/what-your-oldest-memories-reveal-about-you.
Lewis, Zachary R, et al. “Bad Parenting for a Child: Negative Effects.” American SPCC, 17 Oct. 2018, americanspcc.org/2014/07/17/effects-bad-parenting-child/.
Walls, Jeannette. The Glass Castle: a Memoir. Scribner, 2017.
