Analysis Of Forgiveness By Jeannette Walls By Rex Walls

Forgiveness and acceptance are similar terms. To truly forgive a deed acceptance is necessary. However, one doesn’t need to forgive to accept. In some cases, people may choose to accept rather than forgive. But does acceptance bring peace? Jeannette Walls was confronted with the same dilemma. As mentioned before, her usual forgiveness towards her parents neglect malforms into cold acceptance. Though not blatantly explained, it’s through her actions that she begins to accept rather than forgive. Instead of cajoling Jeannette into giving him money, as he usually does, Rex Walls decides to resort to stealing. Apparently his sweet words lost their effect. Jeannette was disappointed not in her father, considering she was used to the act, but disappointed

Considering she is still uncomfortable to discuss her personal life, she is not at peace with herself; she’s determined to keep her past a secret. Even later, she continuously sugar coated her past into something that didn’t seem so harsh. But then, something alters her feelings towards her parents. When she needed money for college, her father provided nearly all of it. Jeannette wouldn’t take it at first but once her father insisted and her mother agreed, she couldn’t say no: “So, when I enrolled for my final year at Barnard, I paid what I owed on my tuition with Dad’s wadded, crumpled bills” (Walls 264). Here she sees the redeemable qualities of her parents. It’s another one of those small moments where her parents prove Jeannette wrong of how they aren’t always awful parents. This is where the line between acceptance and forgiveness is disturbed. Despite those small moments of redeemable qualities, Jeannette still struggles to find her own peace. Forgiveness leads to peace, acceptance does not, this is the ultimate