Education In The Glass Castle

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“Mom gave me a startled look. I’d broken one of our unspoken rules: We were always supposed to pretend our life was one long and incredibly fun adventure”(Novel Guide). In the book The Glass Castle Jeanette grows up with her dysfunctional family. She never has much money or clothes yet realizes she can do without. But with a family that is never very supportive, life can be hard for anyone that is part of the Walls family. Despite her parents odd priorities, Jeanette finds her own independence to be successful. Jeanette's perspective on life is different than what her parents think is right. Her parents trump education with drinking and fun. “With dad drinking and no money coming in…” (Walls 123). With dad not having a steady job and mom not helping around much, the importance of a steady and meaningful family has gone away. “When we enrolled in West Virginia, she’d vouch for our scholastic achievement, and once our new teachers heard us read, they knew we were gifted” (124). Unlike her parents, Jeanette finds it very important to have a good education and strives to succeed. Even if her parents don’t feel that education is that important in their children's life, it won’t stop them from excelling in it. …show more content…

She gets her own job to try and be more competent. “...Mom would refuse to get out of bed, even when Lucy Jo showed up to drive her to school, honking impatiently” (page 206). Jeanette feels detached from her family because in a situation like this she would go to work to be strong for her family. But her mom thinks differently and still acts like a little kid. “Then I walked around the mountain to apply for the job” (214). Jeanette has the courage to provide for herself despite the fact that she isn’t old enough. Even though her mom doesn’t work, in that way they are not alike because Jeanette finds any way she can to be able to

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