The Glass Castle
The novel "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls delves into various themes including neglect, homelessness, alcoholism, forgiveness, and resilience. Through the story of Jeannette and her family, the book raises questions about survival, family dynamics, and personal growth, prompting readers to reflect on issues such as childhood neglect, the impact of alcoholism, and the power of forgiveness. The characters' struggles and triumphs highlight the complexities of familial relationships and the resilience of the human spirit.
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Presentation Transcript
The Glass Castle by: Jeannette Walls THEMES
Unit theme: CAMOUFLAGE Why do people try to fit in or remain unnoticed ? When is it time to stand up or move on to grow? (remove your camouflage) Is camouflage necessary for survival? Is it a part of every person s development?
Novel themes: 1. NEGLECT By parents constant moving, Jeannette burns herself at 3 years old cooking hot dogs. Jeannette and her brother are forced to steal food to survive. Mom s refusal to work, and childhood neglect forces kids to fend for themselves (physiologically, and even sometimes for safety).
2. HOMELESSNESS Jeannette s parents choose homelessness at the end of the novel. Refusal to work, and Rose Mary preferring to live as an excitement addict leaves them on the streets. Offers a new perspective on homelessness to the reader What is homelessness? Is it a life without support and/or structure, or is it physically not having a place to sleep?
3. ALCOHOLISM Affects the entire family, not just the person afflicted. Forces the victim to make decisions that are not always in the best interest of those around the victim. Rex is an alcoholic that makes bad decisions as a result of his disease. Forces the reader to consider where did his disease originate?
4. FORGIVENESS Jeannette s tone is very matter-of-fact and direct. Her perspective changes as she matures, however her tone is not one of blame or anger. Jeannette s biggest message is one of acceptance, tolerance, and forgiveness. Her ability to forgive her parents is what allows her to be a self-actualized, successful person.
5. Sometimes the most responsible people can be the children, not the parents Throughout the novel the kids are taking care of each other and their parents sometimes more so than Rex and Rose Mary care for their own kids. Forces the reader to see triumph in difficulty, and growth in places of darkness. How does this motivate readers?
6. LOST DREAMS Many characters lose their dreams Rex Rose Mary Maureen Why? Lack of money? Lack of education? Lack of motivation? Addiction? Cycle of Abuse? What makes Jeannette successful, or able to overcome?
Why The Glass Castle? Because it is possible to overcome the odds. It is important to reflect on your past and decide how YOU WANT it to REFLECT / DETERMINE your future. Because if Jeannette can do it anyone can!!
