The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls

Characters

Rex Walls – father Rose Mary – mother Lori – older sister, became freelance artist Jeannette Brian – brother, younger than Jeannette, decorated police detective Maureen – younger sister, jailed for stabbing mother, moved to California Grandma Smith – Rose Mary’s mother Jim – brother, inherited Texas land with Rose Mary Erma – Rex’s mother Father Uncle Stanley Eric – Jeannette’s first husband John Taylor – second husband Jessica – John’s daughter Welch: Dinitia Hewitt Ernie Goad Miss Jeanette Bivens – English teacher, advisor to school newspaper

 For Discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from 2006 paperback edition

1. Given Rex’s intelligence and pursuit of knowledge, why do you think he chose to live the way he did? Were there some things about his personality outside his control? Could you understand him?
2. When you read the “Acknowledgements” section at the beginning, what did you think about Maureen’s reaction to the book?   Did you have a fuller understanding after you finished the book?
3. What did you think when reading the first part, “A Woman on the Street” (pages 3-5)?  Where you able to understand Jeannette’s reaction?  How do you think you would have reacted?
4. Why didn’t Rose Mary take advantage of any of the options she had such as selling the two-caret diamond ring and the antique jewelry and buy food and somewhere to live?   
5. When confronted about selling the diamond ring, Rose Mary said that the ring would improve her self-esteem and that “self-esteem is even more vital than food” (page 186).    What did you think about her reasoning?  What insight did this give you into her character?
6. On page 208, after Rose Mary quit her teaching job, Lori wanted Jeannette to feel sorry for her mother.  She said, “Poor Mom…She’s got it tough.”   Jeannette thought, “a strong woman would be able to manage Dad.”   Does Rose Mary deserve any sympathy?
7. In the following section, Lori went to a government-sponsored summer camp and Rose Mary went to Charleston to take college courses for her teaching certificate, leaving Jeannette, at age 13, in charge of the household (pages 208-213).  Why wasn’t Jeannette able to keep her father under control as she expected her mother to do? 
8. Several times Rose Mary explained what she did saying that she was, “an excitement addict” (page 93).  How does this explain her actions? 
9. What did you think of Rose Mary’s sayings?  Was she wise, foolish, or just kidding herself?
1. “Suffering when you’re young is good for you” (page 28).
2. “Life is a drama full of tragedy and comedy…You should learn to enjoy the comic episodes a little more” (page 129).
3. “…you should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them” (page 144).
4. “All seasons have something to offer…Cold weather is good for you.  It kills the germs” (page 177).
5. “Sexual assault was a crime of perception. ‘If you don’t think you’re hurt then you aren’t…So many women make such a big deal out of these things.  But you’re stronger than that” (page 184).
10. At the end of the book Rose Marie bought her apartment where she had been a squatter for 15 years for $1 from the city and was on the residents’ board.    Do you think she will be happy and settle down? Why might it be different now than when she was younger?
11. Discuss the importance of sexual abuse in the memoir: Erma molesting Brian, questioning if Erma had likewise molested Rex, Uncle Stanley groping Jeannette, and Rex taking Jeannette to a bar to distract Robbie so he could win money from him at pool.  In the last instance Rex brushed off the fact that Robbie attacked her because he was confident Jeannette could handle herself.
12. Why did Maureen, who seemed to have the best childhood, have the most troubles later in life?
13. How was Jeannette’s adult life positively and negatively affected by her childhood?

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