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The Glass castle blueprints

Symbolism - The Glass Castle

Authors Purpose

One of the biggest symbols in The Glass Castle is ironically the glass castle itself. Rex Walls uses the glass castle as a way to make promises to his children that life will improve for them. The glass castle symbolizes the unrealistic dreams of the Rex, and as the children grow up they realize the irrationality of the glass castle and their fathers promises and begin making reachable dreams of their own.

The Glass Castle is about Jeanette Walls' aging and growing up with her semi-dysfunctional family. She shares her story with timeless themes and words that leave the reader in a sense of understanding. With talks of Family, Home, and Perseverance Walls portrays the hardships of growing up and the story of her coming to age story.

Symbolism - The Glass Castle

At the end of the book Rex and Jeanette are exchanging words and Rex says to her, "Never did build that Glass Castle" (279), and Jeanette replies with, "No. But we had fun planning it."

Symbolism - The Geode

This shows the hope the glass castle gave to their family and the times the father had with them could be used as hope to achieve a better lifestyle.

"I wanted to bring my bike but Mom said it was too big, so I brought my geode." (124) The Geode is symbolic towards Jeanette because perhaps she feels connected to it in some way. The Geode is average looking on the outside but when you open it it is full of beauty. This relates to Jeanette in ways because she feels ugly or not good enough at points in the book. The Geode shows how much passion Jeanette has for little treasures on the planet and how oddly fortunate she turns out to be.

Irony

Another point of irony is again coming from the parents. Both Rex and Rose Mary have neglected their children in some ways. While Rex continuously spends money on liberations, Rose Mary refuses to work. The children have to take over in adult roles in their lives. They have to provide food, shelter, and money, which children their age shouldn't have to do. "Why do I always have to be the one who earns money?... You have a job, You can earn money... I've got more important things to do." (219)

Most of the irony in this novel comes from Jeanette's parents. In the beginning of the book, Rose Mary scolds Jeanette for chewing gum, by saying it's a "Low-class habit" (7) this is ironic because to most, the Walls are a low class family. This shows the differences in apperance and values Rose Mary and Rex have in raising their children.

Imagery

One of the most gut-wrenching parts of the novel was when Jeanette had to stitch up her father's arm. "I pushed a little harder and felt the resistance of Dad's flesh. It was like sewing meat. It was sewing meat." (106) Jeanette finds herself in these situations that the reader can't help but feel sorry for her. The imagery used shows her life as she saw it and the harsh reality it brought.

Jeanette uses imagery in the book to portray what her life was really like to the reader. She uses vivid descriptions to describe the bad situations she was in. "... the air smelled of mold and cigarettes and unwashed laundry. We huddled around a potbellied cast-iron stove in the middle of the living room." (131) This quote shows the extent of how the Walls were living and the conditions the kids went through at such a young age.

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