Independence

Life was a rocky road throughout The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. Many choices that many people would not advise parents to make were made. Facing problems such as poverty, starvation, unstable living conditions, and emotional abuse, Jeannette and two of three siblings found success through the trials and tribulations set upon them. Due to the poor living conditions the Walls family lived in, many people debate whether Jeannette’s parents were unfit or not. However, they were fit parents because they raised their children to be hard, independent workers.

            If most people were put in the position Rex, Jeannette’s father, and Rose Mary, Jeannette’s mother, was put in, most parents would crumble. Some parents struggle even without all of the challenges to Jeannette and her family were put through, and to add another entre to their plates would be back breaking. Rex and Rose Mary cared for their children and because they were out “skedaddling,” they would homeschool their children. Rex and Rose Mary, as well as any common family greatly believed that education was essential for their child’s success. They ensured that their children would still be educated despite their living conditions, where surely enough, most parents would not even dare to attempt to teach them.

            Jeannette and her siblings spent much of their time fending for themselves. Jeannette had been boiling herself hot dogs ever since she was three-years-old. She would start the fire, add the water, add the sausage, and made hot dogs while being unmonitored. Encouraging children to be independent at a young age can teach a child to be hardworking in his or her future. After growing up, Jeannette and her siblings had moved to New York and most of them became successful due to the introduction of working for themselves in their earlier years. It is very difficult for children who had everything handed to them to become as successful. Independence leads to success. Children who fall under the dependent category are accustomed to relying on others to make things happen, and when they have nobody to rely on, nothing can get done because they do not know how or they are afraid to try. Therefore, children who are raised to be independent will have the ambition for success.

            A good example of this is when Rex threw Jeannette in the water when she could not swim. She could have either chose to swim to success, or give in and drown in failure. Jeannette begins to sink, and Rex finally rescued her. At first Jeannette was upset about her father’s actions, but a motto was developed from this scenario, “If you don’t want to sink, you better learn how to swim” (66). This event was a changing point to Jeannette, and brought light upon the need to work hard so she does not sink in society.

            However, just like every family, there is a downside. Jeannette and her siblings experienced emotional abuse because Rex was struggling with alcoholism. Although their family was poor, he always found a way to pocket enough change to buy some alcohol and get drunk to stir things up and cause havoc. Furthermore their mother, Rose Mary, was oblivious to all of their problems and lived in her own world searching to fulfill her long-lived dreams of becoming an artist. She tried to view everything in a positive way as if the negativity never existed. When her children came to her with problems, she would neglect them and act like nothing was ever wrong. Emotion abuse is not taken as seriously as it should have, and in fact, it could possibly be the reason that drove Maureen to her breaking point and stab Rose Mary.

However, despite the fact, the Walls’ children pushed through the hardships and found a way to forgive them. Even though Rose Mary and Rex put a lot of strain on their children, they still loved each other. Rex and Jeannette’s last conversation was them talking about how they loved each other. “’You always loved your old man, didn’t you?’ ‘I did, Dad,’ I said. ‘And you loved love” (279). Reading between the lines, a reader can infer Rex was apologizing for not being the best father in the world, but reminding his daughter that he still loved her, and assumes him that she loved him in return.

            Love goes a long way in family relationships. “Giving love and affection tops the list” for essential parenting skills according to “What Makes a Good Parent?” by Robert Epstein. The love that Rex and Jeannette have seemed to cancel all of the previous problems they had with each other. Their love was special, like the “star” Rex gave Jeannette for Christmas, which was actually the planet, Venus, which, ironically, is the Roman goddess of love.

            The Walls’ family always had good relations with each other, which made them stronger as a whole. Imagine if they were never in poverty or had the necessities they never did. They most likely would not have learned the fundamentals of independence and would have not been as hardworking as they are now. Jeannette is a true example of the “rags to riches” story by the encouragement and support of her parents. Her parents never gave up on her and always believed she was special and she would reach success some day. This being said, Rex and Rose Mary were fit parents. Jeannette owes her success to the hardships her family faced. Without them, she would not have the will to work hard. Her hard work shaped her to become the woman that she is today. The many obstacles the Walls children overcame helped them seek and achieve their dreams – something every parent should encourage.