75 pages 2 hours read

Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2005

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Essay Topics

1.

What does the Glass Castle symbolize for both Dad and Jeannette? How does it play into the slow erosion of Jeannette’s illusions concerning her father?

2.

To what extent are the family’s struggles the result of Dad’s alcoholism? Clearly it has grievous effects on the family, but do you the think the Wallses would thrive if Dad simply stopped drinking? Why or why not?

3.

In what ways does Mom and Dad’s marriage represent a codependent relationship? How does Mom enable Dad’s alcoholism, both implicitly and explicitly?